ChatGPT said:
Top Story: ICC Warns of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan as Displacement Tops 12 Million
United Nations / Darfur — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a stark warning that war crimes and crimes against humanity are likely being committed in western Sudan, as the country’s civil conflict triggers one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Speaking before the UN Security Council on Thursday, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan revealed that over 12 million people have been displaced since full-scale war erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Drawing on more than 7,000 pieces of evidence and harrowing testimonies from survivors, Khan described a pattern of atrocities in the Darfur region, including targeted sexual violence against women and girls from specific ethnic communities — one of the most “disturbing findings” to emerge from the ICC’s investigation.
“It is difficult to find appropriate words to describe the depth of suffering,” Khan told the Council, praising the “bravery and resilience” of survivors who have shared their stories.
The ICC first began investigating crimes in Darfur nearly two decades ago, following the UN Security Council’s referral in 2005. But the fresh wave of violence triggered by the army-RSF conflict last year has led to a renewed probe, with ICC teams interviewing victims who fled across the border into Chad.
Khan warned of an “inescapable pattern of offending” that points to widespread and systematic abuses. Though perpetrators may “feel a sense of impunity at this moment,” she said, the ICC is committed to ensuring accountability.
“Many of those responsible for the crimes being committed in Darfur will face justice,” she added.
The RSF and allied militias have repeatedly denied allegations of atrocities, framing the violence in Darfur as a “tribal conflict.” But the weight of international evidence tells a far more damning story. In January 2025, the United States declared that genocide had been committed by the RSF and its allies against non-Arab populations in Darfur.
The humanitarian toll is staggering. The United Nations describes “devastating civilian casualties”, mass displacement, and reports of torture, looting, and ethnic cleansing. Relief efforts are being hampered by insecurity and lack of access to besieged areas.
As Sudan teeters on the brink of collapse, the ICC’s renewed scrutiny has raised hopes that justice may one day be served — but also underlines the urgent need for international pressure to halt the ongoing violence.
The situation remains fluid, with no signs of a political resolution in sight. For millions of displaced Sudanese, the promise of accountability may be cold comfort amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
