The International Criminal Court (ICC) has identified credible evidence of war crimes being committed in western Sudan amidst an ongoing conflict, leading to devastating humanitarian crises and widespread suffering.
ICC Urges Immediate Action as War Crimes Emerge from Sudan Conflict
ICC Urges Immediate Action as War Crimes Emerge from Sudan Conflict
The International Criminal Court has reported alarming evidence of war crimes in Sudan, as a humanitarian crisis unfolds.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) raised grave concerns at the United Nations Security Council regarding the situation in Sudan, asserting that there are "reasonable grounds" for believing that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated, especially in western regions like Darfur. The ICC’s Deputy Prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, highlighted the troubling issue of targeted sexual violence against women and girls of specific ethnicities, which emerged as one of the most alarming findings from a recent investigation.
Since the outbreak of armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, the United Nations has reported extensive civilian casualties and significant displacement, with over 12 million people forced to flee their homes. Khan expressed the immense suffering experienced in Sudan, describing the evidence gathered so far as substantial, consisting of over 7,000 items collected from brave survivors who have courageously shared their testimonies.
This issue is not new, as the UN Security Council tasked the ICC with looking into crimes in Darfur two decades ago, leading to ongoing investigations into historical war crimes and genocide. Following the latest conflict, the ICC launched a renewed probe to address the allegations surfacing from the chaos, gathering testimonies from victims who have sought refuge in neighboring Chad.
Khan noted a concerning "inescapable pattern of offending," indicating that those responsible for the atrocities feel a false sense of invulnerability. Despite this climate of impunity, the ICC is committed to ensuring that many individuals will face justice for their actions in Sudan.
Persisting allegations of war crimes led the United States to label the actions of the RSF and allied groups as genocidal against the non-Arab populations of the region. Meanwhile, the RSF has rejected such accusations, framing the conflict as a "tribal dispute," which has featured systematic violence against civilians.
The humanitarian conditions in Darfur continue to deteriorate, with UN reports illustrating targeted attacks on hospitals and aid convoys, alongside the manipulation of essential resources such as food and water. Khan reported alarming trends where rape and sexual violence are being utilized as instruments of war, and abductions are common.
Civilians in the besieged city of el-Fasher are facing crippling shortages of aid, while a cholera outbreak threatens to exacerbate the already critical water shortages in the war-torn areas. The growing famine crisis has resulted in severe acute malnutrition in children, with UNICEF revealing that over 40,000 children received treatment between January and May 2025—a stark increase compared to the previous year.
Khan cautioned that despite the dire situation already unfolding, there is potential for conditions to further worsen, with over 150,000 lives lost in the last two years. The global community looks on as the ICC calls for immediate action and accountability, emphasizing that relief and justice must become priorities to address the ongoing turmoil in Sudan.
