The ICC has found substantial evidence indicating war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, particularly targeted violence against women of specific ethnicities. Recent interviews reveal the devastating impact of renewed conflict, with 12 million displaced and a looming humanitarian disaster.
ICC Reveals Alarming Evidence of War Crimes in Darfur Amid Ongoing Conflict
ICC Reveals Alarming Evidence of War Crimes in Darfur Amid Ongoing Conflict
The International Criminal Court highlights grave violations against humanity, particularly targeting women and children, as violence escalates in Sudan.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reported alarming evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity occurring in western Sudan's Darfur region. During a briefing at the United Nations Security Council, ICC officials indicated there are "reasonable grounds" to substantiate these claims, particularly addressing the escalation of targeted sexual violence against women and girls of specific ethnicities.
Renewed hostilities broke out in April 2023, as conflict reignited between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UN has characterized the situation as causing "devastating civilian casualties," with profound suffering reported across the region. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan expressed the profound difficulties in conveying the extent of suffering witnessed, emphasizing the continuous mandate given to the ICC to investigate crimes in Darfur, which has been ongoing since 2002.
Following the onset of renewed conflict in 2023, the ICC commenced an updated investigation, collecting testimonies from victims who fled to neighboring Chad. They identified a discernible pattern of criminal behavior and are working to compile evidence for possible prosecution. Despite international scrutiny and allegations of genocide proposed by the USA against RSF and allied militias, the RSF has refuted these claims, labeling the violence a mere "tribal conflict."
The worsening humanitarian conditions reported by the UN include targeted attacks on hospitals and aid convoys, severe access restrictions in El-Fasher due to armed encirclement by RSF forces, and an alarming cholera outbreak exacerbating the situation. With famine creeping into the region, Unicef has stated that over 40,000 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition in early 2025, illustrating the dire consequences of the ongoing conflict.
As the death toll continues to rise, exceeding 150,000 in two years, and with 12 million people displaced, Khan cautioned that the situation has the potential to deteriorate even further.
