ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced on Monday that he will seek arrest warrants for individuals linked to alleged war crimes in Darfur, Sudan. Speaking at a UN Security Council session on Sudan and South Sudan, Khan condemned the ongoing violence in Darfur, calling the situation a “tailspin into deeper suffering” marked by famine, escalating conflict, and targeted attacks on women and children.
He stressed that his office’s analysis was based on solid evidence, not unverified reports. “This is a hard-edged analysis based on evidence and information collected and reviewed,” Khan said, emphasizing the particular focus on gender-based violence, which he described as a priority for the ICC.
Khan confirmed that his office is in the process of seeking arrest warrants for individuals involved in crimes committed in West Darfur, stating that warrants would only be pursued when there is enough evidence and a realistic prospect of conviction.
He also urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, calling for an end to the suffering in Darfur. “Now, better late than never, for goodness sake, comply with international humanitarian law,” he appealed.
The conflict between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army has been ongoing since April 2023, with both sides accusing each other of war crimes, including targeting civilians, shelling residential areas, and causing tens of thousands of deaths.