Darfur Crimes Haunt Him… The ICC Demands Al-Bashir’s Surrender

29th January 2025

2 minutes read

Darfur Crimes Haunt Him... The ICC Demands Al-Bashir’s Surrender

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is preparing to issue arrest warrants against Sudanese figures accused of war crimes in the Darfur region in the west of the country.

The ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, stated on Monday that “a new generation of Sudanese is enduring the same hell in Darfur that occurred during the civil war at the start of this century.”
Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, as he does every six months, Khan said: “It is clear to my office (…) that, as we speak, international crimes are being committed in Darfur.”

He added: “This is not an assessment based on unverified information… It is a detailed analysis conducted by my office, based on evidence and data that have been collected and verified.”

In this context, Khan announced: “I can confirm today that my office is taking the necessary steps to request warrants of arrest concerning crimes we believe are being or have been committed in West Darfur.”

Referring to famine, the targeting of children, and the rape of women and girls, he noted that since his last report six months ago, the country has plunged further into “suffering and despair.”

He added that this suffering reflects the same patterns that led the UN Security Council to refer the case to the ICC twenty years ago, highlighting “similar criminal patterns” and “the same targeted groups.”

A Connection Between the Past and Present

Karim Khan stated: “A new generation is suffering the same hell endured by previous generations in Darfur,” lamenting the “tragic and avoidable” connection between the past and the present.

In 2023, the ICC opened a new investigation into war crimes in the region, which is also affected by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces that began nearly two years ago.

In 2005, the Security Council referred the case concerning the civil war, which left approximately 300,000 dead at the beginning of the 21st century, to the ICC.

Khan stressed the need for greater cooperation in arresting and surrendering suspects wanted by the ICC, including former President Omar Al-Bashir and other senior officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He warned: “After 20 years, and in the absence of enforcement of the arrest warrants issued by the Court, we see an increased risk of destabilization in Darfur and further suffering for the population.”

Several suspects targeted by ICC arrest warrants, including former President Omar Al-Bashir, have yet to be apprehended or surrendered to the Court.

The Prosecutor clarified on Monday that his office believes it knows the location of Ahmed Haroun, a former minister wanted since 2007 for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and has informed Sudanese authorities of this.

Since mid-April 2023, a war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has caused more than 20,000 deaths and displaced over 14 million people, according to the United Nations.