In This Article

  • ICC's Allegations and Context of the Sudan Conflict
  • Patterns of Atrocities: Sexual Violence and Targeted Attacks
  • Investigation Efforts and Evidence Collection
  • International Responses and Denials by RSF
  • Humanitarian Crisis: Siege, Disease, and Starvation
  • Death Toll and Warnings of Escalation

Key Takeaways

  • The International Criminal Court (ICC) has identified reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in Darfur, Sudan.
  • Targeted sexual violence against women and girls of specific ethnic groups has been reported as a significant part of the conflict.
  • The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in devastating civilian casualties and displacement, with over 150,000 deaths and 12 million displaced since April 2023.
  • The US has accused the RSF of committing genocide, while the RSF denies these allegations, describing the violence as a tribal conflict.
  • Hospitals, humanitarian convoys, and essential resources like food and water have been targeted, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis in the region.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has raised alarming concerns over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, stating there are "reasonable grounds" to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated in the Darfur region. This announcement was made during a United Nations Security Council briefing on Thursday.

Among the most disturbing findings of the ICC's investigation is the targeted sexual violence against women and girls of specific ethnic groups. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in what the UN describes as "devastating civilian casualties." ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan expressed the difficulty in finding words to convey the "depth of suffering" in the region.

The ICC, which was granted a mandate by the UN Security Council two decades ago to investigate and prosecute crimes in Darfur, has launched a fresh probe following the outbreak of civil war in 2023. The investigation includes interviews with victims who have fled to neighboring Chad. Ms. Khan highlighted an "inescapable pattern of offending" and emphasized the ongoing efforts to gather evidence for potential prosecutions.

Allegations of war crimes have persisted over the past two years, with the US declaring in January 2025 that the RSF and allied militias had committed genocide. The RSF has denied these claims, framing the violence as a "tribal conflict."

Reports from the UN paint a grim picture of conditions in Darfur, where hospitals and humanitarian convoys have been targeted, and food and water supplies deliberately withheld. The city of el-Fasher remains under siege by RSF forces, leaving civilians cut off from critical aid. Additionally, a cholera outbreak in conflict zones further threatens already scarce water resources.

The region is also grappling with an escalating famine. According to UNICEF, over 40,000 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition between January and May 2025—more than double the number from the same period in the previous year. Sheldon Yett of UNICEF warned, "Children in Darfur are being starved by conflict and cut off from the very aid that could save them."

Since the conflict began, more than 150,000 people have died, and approximately 12 million have been displaced. Ms. Khan cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further, stating, "We should not be under any illusion—things can still get worse."

For more updates on the crisis in Sudan, visit BBCAfrica.com.

Tags:

#Human Rights #war crimes #Sudan #ICC #Darfur