The International Criminal Court (ICC) has intensified its investigation into mass atrocities committed in Sudan, with a focus on individual criminal responsibility. According to ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) oversaw an “organised, calculated campaign” of violence during the capture of El Fasher in October 2025. Khan presented the ICC’s latest report on the situation in Darfur to the UN Security Council, highlighting the profound suffering of non-Arab communities, including rape, arbitrary detention, executions, and mass graves.
The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor has collected video, audio, and satellite data, which suggests that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed in El Fasher, particularly in late October. The evidence includes satellite images showing incidents of mass killing and attempts to conceal crimes through mass graves. Khan described video evidence analyzed by her office, which shows a pattern of atrocities similar to what the RSF had previously been accused of in other parts of Darfur.
The ICC is working to determine who is responsible for the crimes, with Khan indicating that her office is preparing arrest warrant applications in connection with the situation in El Fasher. The prosecutor emphasized that the ICC is prioritizing gender-based crimes in its investigative strategy, noting that sexual violence, including rape, is being used as a tool of war in Darfur.
The ICC is also investigating alleged crimes by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur. Khan stated that her office is aware of reports of Rome Statute crimes allegedly committed by the SAF and is ensuring documentation of such reports. The conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing since April 2023, has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with thousands killed, nearly 13 million people displaced, and over 40 percent of the population facing acute food insecurity.
The ICC’s investigation and preparation of arrest warrant applications represent critical steps toward accountability for mass atrocities in Sudan. The court’s focus on individual criminal responsibility means that those who ordered, planned, and executed attacks on civilians may face justice. For survivors in El Fasher, El Geneina, and across Darfur, the ICC’s work provides hope that perpetrators will be held accountable and that their suffering will be documented and recognized by the international community.
