ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur Region

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he is pursuing arrest warrants for individuals accused of committing genocide and other atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region. Speaking to the UN Security Council, Khan reported an alarming increase in criminal activity, including targeted violence against civilians and widespread sexual violence against women and girls, according to verified evidence. Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since mid-April 2023, following clashes between military and paramilitary leaders in the capital, Khartoum, that have spread throughout the country. Khan emphasized the grim similarities to previous conflicts in the region, pointing out that "the pattern of crimes" and the affected communities today closely mirror those from two decades ago when severe violence erupted in Darfur. Moreover, Khan highlighted recent legal progress with the trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, a Janjaweed leader accused of war crimes. The prosecutor's statements coincide with increased condemnation of violence from global leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who denounced a recent attack on a hospital in El Fasher, resulting in numerous fatalities.

The Sudanese army announced its recapture of the Al-Jaili oil refinery, located approximately 70 kilometers north of Khartoum, which had been under the control of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the civil war began in April 2023. The refinery, the largest in Sudan with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, is a joint asset of the Sudanese government and the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation, according to officials. Recent satellite images revealed severe damage and fires at the facility, highlighting the wider devastation caused by the ongoing conflict that has reportedly claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 14 million people. A study by American universities estimates total casualties could reach as high as 130,000. Despite military gains, analysts warn that substantial negotiations will remain unlikely as long as neither side assumes full control over the capital. The situation in Darfur, where the U.S. has classified RSF actions as genocide against ethnic minorities, continues to deteriorate, with recent drone strikes resulting in numerous civilian casualties.

A recent assault on a hospital in El Fascher, the capital of North Darfur, has resulted in the deaths of at least 70 individuals and injured 19 others, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The hospital was reportedly full at the time of the attack, which targeted both patients and their companions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the area had faced significant challenges in healthcare provision due to intense bombardments. The hospital was noted as the only operational medical facility in El Fascher, providing essential services such as gynecology, obstetrics, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and nutrition stabilization. Another healthcare facility in El Malha was also attacked the previous day, further disrupting medical care for local residents and displaced persons. In light of these incidents, the WHO has called for an immediate cessation of attacks on health facilities and unrestricted access to restore damaged services, underscoring the urgent need for peace in Sudan. This escalation follows a protracted struggle for power in Sudan, which has seen the military, led by de facto leader Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, clashing with former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and his militia, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF has been besieging El Fascher since last May, which is the last major city in the region still under government control. The UN's human rights office expressed concern over potential violence in El Fascher as the RSF issued an ultimatum to government troops to vacate the city. The ongoing conflict, which has been intensifying since April 2023, continues to pose severe risks to civilians and healthcare infrastructure, prompting humanitarian organizations to issue alerts about deteriorating conditions.