ICC prosecutor says war crimes continue in Darfur, urges arrests
July 10, 2025 (UNITED NATIONS) – An International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that war crimes and crimes against humanity are still being committed in Sudan’s Darfur region, as she urged Khartoum to arrest long-standing suspects.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan stated that the court’s investigation was progressing despite limited resources and obstruction, vowing that her office would not be deterred from delivering justice for the atrocities.
“We come together at a time when it can seem difficult to find appropriate words to describe the depth of suffering in Darfur,” Khan told the 15-member council during a biannual briefing.
The Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the Hague-based court in 2005 following a brutal conflict. Investigations have been ongoing, but fighting intensified significantly in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to devastating civilian casualties.
Khan stated that the prosecutor’s office has focused on crimes in West Darfur over the past six months, collecting over 7,000 pieces of evidence.
She pointed to the upcoming verdict in the trial of Ali Mohamed Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as “Ali Kushayb,” a former Janjaweed militia leader, as “an important example of what can be achieved.” The decision is expected to be made in the second half of 2025.
Khan stressed the importance of arresting other key suspects, including former President Omer Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir and former Interior Minister Ahmad Harun.
“Transferring Mr. Harun now would carry exceptional weight, given that the crimes he is accused of are closely linked to those currently before the Court in Mr. Abd-Al-Rahman’s trial,” Khan said. “Action by the Government of Sudan to arrest Mr. Harun would send a strong signal of its dedication to ensuring accountability.”
The prosecutor also appealed to the council for more support, reporting that the office’s resources are “critically low” relative to the scale of the allegations and that it has faced “hostility and obstruction.”
“We need your support now more than ever before,” she said.