ICC Says Darfur War Crimes Probe Reaches Breakthrough in Sudan Investigation

The International Criminal Court (ICC) says it has made a significant breakthrough in its investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Sudan’s conflict in the Darfur region, with prosecutors obtaining what they describe as strong evidence linking atrocities to senior leadership.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told Reuters that investigators have gathered additional evidence connecting crimes committed in Darfur to leadership figures, marking a major step in the court’s ongoing investigation. While she did not identify which group the leaders belong to or confirm whether arrest warrants have been requested, she said prosecutors are confident the investigation will produce meaningful results within a reasonable timeframe.

The ICC is investigating attacks on al-Geneina in 2023 and al-Fashir in 2024. United Nations experts have said the attacks, allegedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), bear the hallmarks of genocide against non-Arab communities in Darfur. The RSF has denied deliberately targeting civilians and says it will hold individual offenders accountable.

Khan recently visited eastern Chad, where she met survivors and witnesses who described executions, sexual violence, and other atrocities. She said their testimonies will play a key role in future court proceedings. Reuters previously documented evidence identifying several RSF commanders during the al-Fashir offensive through witness interviews and analysis of online videos, while ICC investigators have collected similar accounts.

Sudan is not a member of the Rome Statute, but the UN Security Council granted the ICC jurisdiction over crimes committed in Darfur from 2005 onward. Although Sudan’s military-led government has cooperated with recent investigations, it has yet to surrender former officials accused of genocide in earlier Darfur conflicts.

Khan also clarified that the ICC prosecutes individuals rather than states, responding to questions about countries accused of supporting armed groups, including the United Arab Emirates, which has denied allegations of backing the RSF.

She also urged Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their planned withdrawal from the Rome Statute, saying ICC membership strengthens global justice. Khan and other ICC officials remain under U.S. sanctions following the court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged crimes in Gaza.