In a significant development, prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that they are taking immediate steps to preserve evidence of potential war crimes committed in Sudan’s Darfur region. This follows the capture of the key city of El-Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, after an 18-month siege. Reports indicate that hundreds of civilians were killed, with witnesses describing horrific acts of violence, including house-to-house killings and sexual assaults. The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least 460 people were killed in a hospital attack, with medical staff abducted. The ICC’s statement emphasized that these alleged atrocities may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, reflecting a broader pattern of violence in Darfur. The fall of El-Fasher marks a new phase in the two-year conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s military, which has devastated the region. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan had previously informed the UN Security Council in January that both government forces and the RSF might be committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. Khan has temporarily stepped down pending an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies. Earlier this month, the ICC achieved a landmark conviction in a Darfur case, finding Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman guilty of mass executions and other atrocities.
ICC prosecutor warns Sudan’s paramilitary forces may be committing war crimes in Darfur
