The International Criminal Court (ICC) has declared that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity are currently being committed in western Sudan, as the civil conflict continues to devastate the Darfur region.
Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan outlined the deeply disturbing findings of the Court’s latest investigation, launched in 2023 after fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, which began in April 2023, has caused catastrophic civilian suffering, including mass displacement and systematic violence.
Khan emphasized the widespread and targeted sexual violence against women and girls belonging to specific ethnic communities, calling it one of the most alarming discoveries of the probe. “It is difficult to find appropriate words to describe the depth of suffering,” she said, referencing testimonies from victims who fled to neighboring Chad.
The UN first gave the ICC a mandate to investigate crimes in Darfur two decades ago, following reports of mass atrocities beginning in July 2002. While prior investigations have led to several high-profile indictments, the latest resurgence of violence has prompted renewed scrutiny. Khan described a “pattern of offending” that is “inescapable,” and affirmed the Court’s commitment to translating the testimonies and evidence into charges that can stand in court.
The situation on the ground has rapidly deteriorated. In January 2025, the United States officially concluded that the RSF and associated militias had committed acts of genocide in the region. The RSF has denied these allegations, calling the violence a “tribal conflict,” a claim that international observers strongly contest.
United Nations reports suggest that humanitarian conditions are worsening. Hospitals have been targeted, aid convoys attacked, and essential resources like food and water are being deliberately withheld. In El-Fasher, the regional capital, civilians have been completely cut off from humanitarian assistance due to an armed blockade imposed by RSF forces. A cholera outbreak now threatens vulnerable communities already struggling with access to clean water.
The humanitarian toll has reached catastrophic levels. According to UNICEF, over 40,000 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition between January and May 2025 – more than double the number in the same period the previous year. “Children in Darfur are being starved by conflict and cut off from the very aid that could save them,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative.
Since the conflict reignited, more than 150,000 people have lost their lives and nearly 12 million have been displaced. Despite the already staggering numbers, Khan cautioned that the situation could deteriorate even further. “We should not be under any illusion – things can still get worse,” she warned.
The ICC continues to collect evidence and is expected to pursue prosecutions for crimes against humanity and genocide, even as the international community faces growing pressure to intervene more effectively to halt the crisis in Darfur.