The top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sent shockwaves through the United Nations Security Council, announcing that he believes both Sudan’s regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are committing war crimes in Darfur. This comes as the region reels from a brutal conflict that erupted in April 2023.
Prosecutor Karim Khan told the Council on Monday that his office has gathered “significant evidence” suggesting serious violations of international law, including the internationally recognized Geneva Conventions which govern warfare. He emphasized that this evidence points to both government forces and the RSF, along with their allied groups, engaging in acts that could be considered war crimes under the ICC’s founding treaty.
The specific accusations are alarming. Reports, including harrowing accounts from survivors, detail ethnically targeted violence in El Geneina, West Darfur, where thousands are believed to have been killed in horrific attacks last year. The UN estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 people lost their lives in El Geneina alone, raising fears of a wider campaign of ethnic cleansing.
The news adds to a growing chorus of concern about the situation in Darfur. The United States recently declared that war crimes have been committed in Sudan, with the RSF and allied militias implicated in both war crimes and crimes against humanity. This ongoing conflict has also triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with nearly half of Sudan’s population now in need of aid and over 7.5 million people displaced from their homes.
Prosecutor Khan’s assessment carries significant weight. The ICC holds jurisdiction over some of the gravest crimes against humanity, and his statement directly implicates both sides in the Darfur conflict. This development could pave the way for investigations and potential prosecutions, sending a strong message that such blatant violations of international law will not be tolerated.
The international community must now act swiftly and decisively to address this unfolding tragedy. Demanding an end to the violence and holding those responsible accountable are crucial steps. Only through concerted global action can the suffering in Darfur be alleviated and lasting peace be achieved.
