ICC announces breakthrough in Sudan Darfur war crimes investigation, linking attacks to top leadership

Jul 8, 2026

The International Criminal Court announces a major breakthrough in its Darfur war crimes investigation, securing concrete evidence that links top political and military leadership to atrocities in al-Geneina and al-Fashir. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan confirms the development following a visit to refugee camps in eastern Chad. This announcement comes amid internal tension, as a three-judge pre-trial panel recently criticized the prosecution for shelving a prepared arrest warrant for a Rapid Support Forces member.

ICC Darfur investigation breakthrough

▪International Criminal Court Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan declined to specify which forces the implicated leadership belongs to or provide a timeline for when arrest warrants would be applied for.
▪The International Criminal Court investigation focuses on attacks in the Darfur cities of al-Geneina in 2023 and al-Fashir in 2025, where paramilitary Rapid Support Forces allegedly committed atrocities bearing the hallmarks of genocide.
▪The International Criminal Court has obtained strong, concrete evidence linking political and military leadership to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, Sudan.

Shelved RSF arrest warrant

▪The International Criminal Court has not applied for a single arrest warrant regarding crimes committed in Darfur since the Sudanese civil war began in April 2023.
▪The International Criminal Court prosecutor's office decided not to proceed with an arrest warrant application for a member of the Rapid Support Forces that was prepared for filing in 2025.

Pre-trial chamber criticism

▪The International Criminal Court pre-trial chamber cited statements by Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan to the United Nations Security Council regarding the deteriorating situation in Darfur, noting arrest warrants could prevent further crimes.
▪A three-judge panel of the International Criminal Court pre-trial chamber criticized the prosecution for delays and ordered it to explain the delay and provide a timeline for filing the Rapid Support Forces arrest warrant application.

Sudan civil war crisis

▪The war between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced over 13 million, and driven more than 19.5 million people to the brink of famine.
▪Sudan's army-led government has cooperated with investigations into recent attacks but has refused to hand over several top former leaders accused of genocide in the earlier Darfur conflict.

Chad refugee camp visit

▪International Criminal Court Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan gathered witness testimonies of executions and sexual violence during a visit to refugee camps in eastern Chad.
▪During her visit to eastern Chad, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan met with Darfuri victims who fled the fighting in cities like al-Fashir and al-Geneina.