Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan in Berlin

ICC Deputy Prosecutor: Things Could Get Worse in North Darfur Due to Rebel Militia Attacks

The Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Nazhat Shameem Khan, has warned that things could get worse in Darfur. She referred to reports in recent weeks about the current situation in North Darfur, following attacks launched by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated groups on its capital, El-Fashir, and the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). In her briefing to the UN Security Council on Friday evening, she stated that it is difficult to find the right words to describe the depth of the suffering.
The UN website reported on Saturday that the Office of the Prosecutor in The Hague reached its conclusions based on intensive activities over the past period, relying on documentary evidence, testimonies, and digital evidence collected and analyzed by the office. She stated, "We will not retreat until justice is served promptly, in a manner that redresses the rights of victims and influences the behavior of perpetrators on the ground."
Nazhat Shameem Khan explained that the Office of the Prosecutor had held further meetings with the Sudanese government, notably through a visit to Port Sudan facilitated by the Sudanese government. She stated that another visit was planned for the coming period.
Nazhat Khan pointed to some obstacles and the Office of the Prosecutor's limited resources compared to the volume of allegations it was tasked with investigating, calling on Council members to support the Office now more than ever to prevent the spiral of violence fueled by a deep sense of impunity among those who continue to commit crimes against civilians.