Sudan urges ICC to probe foreign backers of paramilitary RSF

July 11, 2 025 (UNITED NATIONS) – Sudan’s envoy to the United Nations has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate foreign countries and entities for allegedly providing military support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stressing that such actions constitute a “new crime of aggression.”

In an address to the UN Security Council on July 10, Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss asserted his government’s full cooperation with the court while appealing for international funding to support its investigations into crimes in Darfur.

“We call on the Office of the Prosecutor to add to the investigation the elements and personalities from foreign countries, whether in Sudan’s neighborhood, in Africa, or major regional sponsors,” Idriss said.

He accused these external parties of helping the RSF “to continue its attacks” by allowing “the smuggling of weapons and providing logistical support, food, supplies, drones, and missiles.”

The ambassador stated that the aim of this foreign support was to enable the RSF to “occupy parts of Sudanese territory with the help of foreign mercenaries, with the goal of creating a parallel government.”

Idriss stressed that his government was cooperating with the ICC, citing a memorandum of understanding signed in August 2021 and the facilitation of visits by court delegations as evidence of its commitment. This cooperation, he argued, was the basis for demanding an expanded investigation.

Concluding his address, the ambassador appealed for resources for the court to carry out its work.

“Sudan appeals to the international community to provide sufficient financial and logistical support to enable the ICC to carry out its mandate regarding the investigation of serious crimes committed in Darfur,” he said.

“The continuation of impunity not only threatens peace and security in Darfur, but it also undermines efforts for transitional justice and national reconciliation in Sudan.”