International Criminal Court Seeks Arrest Warrants for Atrocities in Sudan
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that his office is moving forward with plans to issue arrest warrants against individuals accused of committing heinous acts in the West Darfur region of Sudan. This area has become a focal point of ethnic cleansing carried out by paramilitary forces engaged in ongoing conflict with government troops for nearly 19 months.
Karim Khan addressed the U.N. Security Council, stating that atrocities in Darfur are occurring on a daily basis and are being utilized as instruments of war. This statement comes from a thorough analysis based on evidence and intelligence gathered by his office.
Sudan’s descent into violence began in mid-April 2023, ignited by escalating tensions between its military leaders and those of paramilitary groups, spreading from Khartoum to the extensive western region of Darfur. Two decades earlier, Darfur was marked by a tragic legacy of genocide and war atrocities, particularly by the infamous Janjaweed Arab militias targeting groups identified as Central or East African, resulting in the deaths of up to 300,000 individuals and displacing 2.7 million others.
In his earlier address to the council, Khan indicated that there are credible grounds to suspect both government forces and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Force (RSF), which originated from the Janjaweed, might be committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or even genocide in the current conflict in Darfur.
Just prior to the conclusion of Biden’s administration this month, a determination was made that the RSF and its affiliates were committing acts of genocide amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Khan remarked that there are distinct similarities between the ongoing violence and past crises in Darfur. He stated, “The nature of the crimes, the actors involved, and the targeted communities mirror closely those from 2003,” leading to the Security Council’s referral of the previous conflict to the ICC. He lamented, “The same communities, suffering anew, are faced with a tragic repetition of the past.”
A significant report from Human Rights Watch in May documented the brutality inflicted by the RSF and allied militias on ethnic groups such as the Masalit in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, with attacks commencing in April and intensifying into November 2023. The report highlighted the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands due to the violence.
During the council meeting, Khan confirmed that his office is taking urgent steps to apply for arrest warrants related to the alleged crimes in West Darfur. While he did not disclose specific details regarding the crimes or individuals targeted, he emphasized the office’s heightened concern regarding gender crimes committed against women and girls, categorizing them as a top priority for the ICC.
Khan described the past six months as a period marked by escalating suffering and despair in Darfur, underscored by famine, increased violence, and systematic targeting of children and women. He conveyed a message to those in regions like El Geneina and El Fasher besieged by RSF forces, urging compliance with international humanitarian standards, not as a mere gesture of goodwill, but as a fundamental requirement of humanity itself.
Furthermore, Khan indicated that he has made attempts to engage with the RSF to gather pertinent information for ongoing investigations, and his office met with representatives of the paramilitary group last week. He expressed a demand for prompt and impactful action from the RSF, stating his intention to monitor developments closely in the pursuit of justice for the affected communities.
