Key facts
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found concrete evidence linking leaders of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
- ICC Deputy Chief Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan described the findings as a "breakthrough" in the investigation.
- The evidence connects ongoing atrocities in el-Fasher and el-Geneina to specific individuals in leadership positions.
- The RSF has denied widespread allegations of killings and ethnic targeting in Darfur, though it acknowledged some violations occurred.
- Previous ICC investigations have resulted in seven arrests and six cases related to war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced a significant breakthrough in its investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur region. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told the BBC that "concrete evidence" now links leaders of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to recent atrocities in the cities of el-Fasher and el-Geneina.
Khan described the progress as substantial, stating that the ICC has found evidence connecting the events on the ground to specific individuals in leadership roles. While acknowledging that justice may take time, she expressed confidence that charges would eventually be brought. The RSF has denied widespread allegations of killings and ethnic targeting, though the group has admitted that some violations occurred.
The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has seen intense fighting, particularly during the RSF's seizure of el-Fasher, which resulted in tens of thousands of people fleeing. The UN has noted that the violence bears the "hallmarks of genocide."
The ICC's investigation utilizes witness accounts, testimonials, and corroborative evidence such as videos, photographs, and forensic findings. This follows previous ICC actions that led to seven arrests and six cases concerning war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan. Notably, former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir remains at large despite facing arrest warrants, and a former militia leader was previously sentenced to 20 years for crimes committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004.