The International Criminal Court (ICC) believes war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place in Sudan, where civil war has raged for more than two years.
The tribunal’s deputy prosecutor has told the UN Security Council that the humanitarian crisis and depth of suffering in the country’s western Darfur region “has reached an intolerable state”.
Nazhat Shameem Khan said: “People are being deprived of water and food.
“Rape and sexual violence are being weaponised. Abductions for ransom or to bolster the ranks of armed groups have become common practice.”
“And yet we should not be under any illusion,” she told the UN’s most powerful body. “Things can still get worse.”
The war in Sudan began in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces broke out in the capital, Khartoum.
A destroyed military vehicle and bombed buildings in Khartoum in March. Pic: Reuters
The conflict soon spread to other regions, including Darfur, and some 40,000 people have been killed and almost 13 million displaced, according to UN agencies.
Ms Khan said the ICC has been closely tracking the dire situation in North Darfur in recent weeks.
The region’s capital, El Fasher, has been besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated groups.
The RSF, which controls the capitals of all other states in Darfur, has also attacked famine-hit Zamzam and other camps for displaced Sudanese in North Darfur.
Ms Khan said: “On the basis of our independent investigations, the position of our office is clear, we have reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and are continuing to be committed in Darfur.”
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The conclusion is based on documentary, testimonial and digital evidence collected by ICC investigations over the last six months and over 7,000 items of evidence collected to date, she added.
Ms Khan emphasised that the ICC considers the situation in Darfur “of the utmost importance” and said it will not be deterred until justice is delivered to the perpetrators.
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Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes two decades ago, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven out of their homes.
Ms Khan said those now “inflicting unimaginable atrocities on [Darfur’s] population” should know Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb is currently on trial and the ICC hopes it will be the first of many.
