The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, announced on Monday that his office will pursue arrest warrants against individuals accused of committing atrocities in Sudan’s West Darfur region, citing evidence of ongoing crimes being used as weapons of war.

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Speaking to the United Nations Security Council, Khan stressed that crimes in Darfur are happening “daily,” drawing parallels between the current violence and the atrocities committed two decades ago. He stated, “The pattern of crimes, the perpetrators, and the targeted groups today track very closely with those of 2003.”

The current conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023, with tensions between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) spilling over from the capital, Khartoum, to other regions, including Darfur.

The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed Arab militias responsible for the genocide and war crimes in Darfur in the early 2000s, has been accused of similar atrocities today. Between 2003 and 2004, the Janjaweed were central to violence that led to the deaths of 300,000 people and the displacement of 2.7 million.

Khan highlighted the suffering of Darfuri communities, saying, “It’s the same communities, the same groups suffering, a new generation enduring the same hell.”

Khan previously stated that there is evidence suggesting both the Sudanese army and the RSF may be committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. Both parties have denied the allegations.

While the ICC prosecutor did not reveal details of the specific charges or individuals targeted by the new warrants, he made it clear that the situation demands immediate accountability.

Sierra Leone, representing the states party to the ICC’s Rome Statute, condemned the enduring impunity since 2003 and called on Sudan to cooperate with the ICC under UN Security Council Resolution 1593, which initially referred the Darfur situation to the court.

Freetown’s UN ambassador, Michael Imran Kanu, said, “The current violence demonstrates the urgent need for accountability for both past and present crimes. We call on the Sudanese authorities to fulfill their obligations by cooperating fully with the ICC.”

Sudan’s ousted former president, Omar al-Bashir, and several officials remain wanted by the ICC for crimes committed during the early 2000s. Despite years of calls for their surrender, they have yet to face justice, symbolizing the long-standing challenge of achieving accountability for Darfur.

As the violence continues to engulf Sudan, the ICC’s renewed push for arrest warrants underscores the urgent need to break the cycle of impunity and protect the region’s most vulnerable communities.

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