Smoke billows in Khartoum amid ongoing fighting between the forces of two rival generals in Sudan on May 6, 2023. AFP

The UN Human Rights Council is reportedly due to hold a frowned-upon emergency session in Geneva on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The decision to hold the discussion follows a joint request by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway.

The session is expected to discuss alleged human rights violations including attacks on civilians, sexual violence and looting of hospitals.

Meanwhile, several African nations, including Sudan, are reported to have opposed the timing of the meeting, fearing it could jeopardise ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

The U.N. Human Rights Council – a body of nations advocating for the protection of human rights worldwide – does not have legally binding powers, but its debates can spur investigations that feed evidence to national and international courts.