The International Criminal Court announced on Thursday that it has reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity are occurring in Sudan's western Darfur region amid an escalating civil war.
Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan addressed the United Nations Security Council, stating, "The humanitarian position has reached an intolerable state." She highlighted that people are being deprived of essential resources such as water and food, while incidents of rape and sexual violence are reportedly being weaponized. Additionally, abductions for ransom or to reinforce armed groups have become increasingly common.
According to Ms. Khan, one of the court's alarming findings is an "inescapable pattern" of sexual violence against women and girls, linked to their gender and ethnicity.
While the court did not identify specific perpetrators, both factions involved in the conflict have faced accusations of committing atrocities from officials in various organizations.
The ICC's determination follows the collection of approximately 7,000 pieces of evidence, including testimonies from victims. Investigators have engaged with victim groups and conducted interviews in refugee camps in neighboring Chad, where many Darfurians have sought refuge.
The civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions, alongside widespread famine.
The Sudanese military is in conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), a paramilitary group with roots in the Janjaweed militia known for its violent history against ethnic African groups in Darfur.
The military has been accused of indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, while the R.S.F. faces allegations of ethnic cleansing, particularly targeting the Masalit ethnic group during a recent spate of violence in 2023.
Ms. Khan affirmed her office's commitment to pursuing "meaningful justice" for victims of violence in Darfur. However, she cautioned that despite progress made in evidence collection, the situation could deteriorate further. "We should not be under any illusions," she warned.
Last year, the ICC sought public assistance in gathering evidence related to abuses in Darfur, but reports indicate that little documentation has been produced regarding sexual violence in Sudan.
A 2024 U.N. fact-finding mission reported widespread gender-based violence, including rape and sexual slavery, in conflict-affected areas. A UNICEF report earlier this year documented numerous instances of child rape perpetrated by armed groups.
Currently, the Rapid Support Forces predominantly control Darfur, except for El Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese military in the region.
In recent weeks, violence around El Fasher resulted in the deaths of many civilians, including women and children. In June, an attack on a U.N. convoy delivering aid to the city resulted in several fatalities and injuries, as well as damage to numerous aid trucks. This convoy marked the first humanitarian mission to North Darfur in over a year.
Officials have expressed concerns that if El Fasher falls into R.S.F. control, it could lead to more massacres.