War in Sudan: ICC prosecutor plans to request arrest warrants in coming months

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan who presented to the United Nations Security Council in New York his semi-annual report on Darfur said he was planning to request arrest warrants against some of the people who are most responsible for the crimes committed in the region.

The prosecutor, who focused on the investigation into crimes committed in Darfur and the regional capital of el-Fasher since April 2023, said the investigation is progressing. “I will be in a position, I believe, I hope, by the time of my next report, to be able to announce a request for arrest warrants against some of these people who are most responsible for what we are seeing at the moment,” he told the Security Council.

Karim Khan also sought the cooperation of General Hemedti’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The ICC prosecutor also denounced the financial and political support for the militias and the inaction of the international community.

Apart from the civil war in Sudan, the Prosecutor mentioned the cases of ex-President Omar al-Bashir, who has never been handed over, and ex-minister Ahmed Harun, who is said to be on the move without hindrance. The prosecutor requested Sudan’s cooperation in their arrest.

Unusually, the prosecutor welcomed Sudan’s “more positive” cooperation that has been slowly building up over the past few months. His office was able to visit Port Sudan in March, and the government has responded to several requests for assistance. ICC investigators have been able to deploy to the region, and in June, its office also launched a call for witnesses.

The Security Council referred the case to the ICC in 2005.