ICC Declares War Crimes in Sudan's Darfur Amid Ongoing Civil War

The ICC has found "reasonable grounds" to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place in Sudan's Darfur, revealing alarming conditions and systematic violence against women and girls.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Thursday that it believes there are "reasonable grounds" indicating that war crimes and crimes against humanity are occurring in Sudan's troubled Darfur region, now engulfed in a devastating civil war. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan provided this alarming assessment during a session with the United Nations Security Council, characterizing the humanitarian conditions as "intolerable."

A grave situation has unfolded, leaving people in Darfur without sufficient access to water and food. Alarmingly, there are reports of rape and sexual violence being used as tactics of war. Abductions for ransom and recruitment into armed groups have reportedly become commonplace, further complicating the humanitarian crisis.

Khan identified a disturbing trend: a marked and systematic pattern in which women and girls are subjected to sexual violence based on their gender and ethnicity. While specific perpetrators were not confirmed, it has been noted that both factions involved in Sudan’s civil unrest have faced accusations of committing atrocities by various international bodies, including the United States and the United Nations.

The ICC's conclusions stem from the collection of around 7,000 pieces of evidence, including firsthand accounts from victims. Investigators have actively engaged with displaced individuals in refugee camps located in neighboring Chad, where many have sought safety from the violence that erupted in Sudan in April 2023. The ongoing conflict has since claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and triggered a widespread famine across the affected regions.