The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested information and evidence of atrocities committed in Sudan following a rebel attack on a hospital in Darfur. The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, expressed deep concern over the organized, systematic, and profound attack on human dignity in the region. The attack, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces militia group, resulted in the closure of a major hospital in Darfur. This attack occurred amidst ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, with over 120 deaths reported in recent weeks.
The conflict in Sudan, which began last year, has claimed over 14,000 lives and left thousands more injured. The UN food agency warned of the risk of famine and widespread deaths in Darfur if humanitarian aid is not allowed to enter the region. Over 10 million people have been displaced, with more than two million crossing into neighboring countries. The prosecutor highlighted the urgent need for investigation into the situation in Sudan, citing credible evidence of attacks on civilians, sexual violence, bombings of civilian areas, looting, and attacks on hospitals, particularly targeting certain ethnic communities.
The ICC has been investigating atrocities in Sudan for some time, stemming from the previous conflict in Darfur. Former President Omar al-Bashir has been indicted for alleged genocide in the region between 2003 and 2008. The RSF, originally formed as the Janjaweed militias mobilized by al-Bashir, have been accused of mass killings, rape, and other atrocities. Khan emphasized the need to prevent history from repeating itself in Darfur and to ensure that the region does not become a forgotten tragedy once again.