Sudan: ICC warns of ongoing war crimes and atrocities in Darfur | United Nations

Deputy International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan today (10 Jul) told the Security Council that the Office of the Prosecutor has “reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and are continuing to be committed in Darfur.” Khan described a series of ongoing violations, including hospitals, humanitarian convoys, and other civilian objects apparently being targeted; famine escalating and humanitarian aid not reaching those in need; people being deprived of water and food; rape and sexual violence being weaponized; and abductions for ransom or to bolster the ranks of armed groups becoming common practice. She said, “we come together at a time when it can seem difficult to find appropriate words to describe the depth of suffering in Darfur. The humanitarian position has reached an intolerable state.” The Deputy Prosecutor noted the Office’s conclusions are grounded on the activities it has been undertaking in the last six months and in earlier reporting periods, relying on documentary, testimonial, and digital evidence, collected and analysed by the Office. She said, “drawing on the over 7,000 evidence items collected to date, the Office of the Prosecutor remains focused on delivering concrete landmarks, so as to respond to the legitimate and impassioned calls for justice heard from victims and survivors.” Khan said, “to those on the ground in Darfur now; to those inflicting unimaginable atrocities on its population; they may feel a sense of impunity at this moment, as Ali Kushayb may have in the past. But we are working intensively to ensure that the Ali Kushayb trial represents only the first of many in relation to this situation at the International Criminal Court.” On 9 July 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed all the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman - commonly known as Ali Kushayb - and committed him to trial. The trial ended on 13 December 2024 Khan said, “there is an inescapable pattern of offending, targeting gender and ethnicity through rape and sexual violence which must be translated into evidence for the Court and the world to hear,” and stressed that “these alleged crimes are being given particular priority by our Office as we proceed with focus in our investigative work.” Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, for his part told the Council that “militia of the Rapid Support are launching an all-out destruction war against the state without the main parameters of a regular army.” Al-Harith Mohamed, said, “they lack unity of control and command or even knowledge of the rules of engagement. They are established based on communal bases. The recruitment is based on ethnicity. They have been designated as a terrorist group. On the other hand, he continued, “the soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces are coming from all strata of the Sudanese society they have been trained on IHL (International Humanitarian Law); they follow a strict code of conduct. They also apply the principles of precaution and distinction. We've also, through our spokesperson, have issued a number of statements warning citizens from any potential areas that might be turned into a theatre of war. “ Outside the Council, Ambassadors Michael Imran Kanu of Sierra Leone and Sandra Jensen Landi of Denmark issued a statement joined by Representatives from France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. Kanu said, “we express, position to the office for their continued dedication to their mandate under exceptional, challenging circumstances. We welcome the ongoing intensive activities with respect to the situation in Darfur, reflected in the report. Based on extensive testimonial, digital and documentary evidence collected, the office has confirmed it has reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and continue to be committed in Darfur.’ Landi, for her part said, “we remain steadfast in upholding the principles enshrined in the Rome Statute and defending the court's integrity against any threats or actions targeting the institution, its officials, or cooperating partners. Such actions are counterproductive to our shared goal of ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes, promoting the rule of law, and fostering lasting respect for international law, including human rights.”


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