UNSC Holds Session on Sudan to be Addressed by the ICC

New York – Sudanhorizon
The UN Security Council will hold a session in July to listen to a mid-year briefing on the activities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to the situation in Darfur, which will be delivered by the Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Nuzhat Shamim Khan.
Sudanhorizon news website reports that according to the latest report of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), submitted to the Security Council on January 16, pursuant to Resolution 1593, the Office of the Prosecutor has gathered sufficient evidence to establish reasonable grounds to believe that a wide range of crimes under the Rome Statute have been committed, and are continuing to be committed, in Darfur in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan that began in April 2023.
The UN Security Council’s monthly bulletin indicates that the Office of the Prosecutor continued to gather evidence and information related to alleged crimes committed in North Darfur. In his briefing to the Security Council on January 27, Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, highlighted that the pattern of crimes, perpetrators, and target groups in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan is strikingly similar to what occurred in the 2003 conflict, which prompted the Council at the time to refer the situation to the ICC.
Khan emphasized the need to close the impunity gap and called for greater accountability. He expressed concern about widespread allegations of targeting women and girls, including reports of gender-based crimes. Khan confirmed that the Office of the Prosecutor is taking steps to submit requests for arrest warrants for alleged crimes committed in West Darfur.
Sudanhorizon notes that these incidents refer to the killing, and dragging of the body, of the Governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abkar, and the killing of dozens of civilians on ethnic grounds.
UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Virginia Gamba, emphasized in her statement during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council that the warring Sudanese parties in the current conflict have committed gross human rights violations, and that the risk of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Sudan remains extremely high.
The UN official warned at the time that the ongoing targeted attacks against certain ethnic groups, particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, remain of grave concern. Gamba highlighted that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias and allied militias continue to launch ethnically motivated attacks against the Zaghawa, Masalit, and Fur communities.
The Security Council’s bulletin noted human rights developments, stating that on June 2, a humanitarian aid convoy of 15 trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF was attacked in the town of Al-Kuma, located approximately 80 kilometers from Al Fashir. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people, injuries to others, and the destruction of several trucks and vital humanitarian supplies.
In a press statement issued on June 4, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for prompt and impartial investigations into the incidents in Al-Kuma, along with concrete steps to ensure accountability. It also urged all parties to the conflict to take concrete measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
In a press release issued on June 17, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan warned of an escalation of the war, with dire consequences for civilians caught up in the conflict. The mission reported increased use of heavy weapons in populated areas, the siege of hospitals and medical facilities, and a sharp rise in sexual and gender-based violence. It described the situation as a “serious human rights and protection emergency.” It stated that in El Fasher, civilians were assaulted, detained, and killed, while villages were attacked, burned, and looted by the Rapid Support Forces. During an attack by the Rapid Support Forces between April 10 and 13, more than 100 civilians were reportedly killed. The fact-finding mission called on the international community to impose an arms embargo and take concrete steps to ensure that those responsible for gross human rights violations are held accountable.

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