The International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in Sudan’s Darfur region, as the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its second year. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan presented grim findings from an ongoing investigation launched in 2023, citing over 7,000 pieces of evidence and survivor testimonies collected primarily from refugees who fled Darfur to neighboring Chad. Among the most disturbing revelations, she highlighted the systematic use of sexual violence against women and girls from specific ethnic groups, calling it a clear pattern of targeted abuse.
“It is difficult to find appropriate words to describe the depth of suffering,” Khan said. “Rape and sexual violence are being weaponised, and abductions for ransom or recruitment have become commonplace.” The investigation follows a broader mandate given to the ICC by the UN Security Council in 2005 to investigate crimes committed in Darfur since 2002. The renewed probe was triggered by the April 2023 outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which has devastated civilians, particularly in western Sudan.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have reported catastrophic conditions in Darfur. The city of El Fasher remains under siege by RSF forces, cutting off food, water, and medical aid. UNICEF says over 40,000 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition between January and May 2025—more than twice last year’s figure. An outbreak of cholera is compounding the crisis in conflict zones with scarce clean water. In January 2025, the U.S. government formally declared that the RSF and allied Arab militias had committed genocide against non-Arab communities in Darfur. The RSF has rejected the accusation, framing the conflict as a tribal dispute.
Khan warned that the perpetrators may feel emboldened by a lack of accountability but vowed that the ICC would pursue prosecutions. “We are determined to ensure that many will face justice for what is happening in Darfur,” she said. The humanitarian toll continues to escalate. More than 150,000 people have died since the conflict began, and an estimated 12 million have been displaced. “We should not be under any illusion—things can still get worse,” Khan concluded.
