The United Kingdom has formally called for the International Criminal Court to investigate Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for crimes against humanity, following a UN fact-finding mission report that documented widespread atrocities in the Darfur region. The report, published after months of investigation, accuses the RSF of systematic attacks on civilians, including murder, torture, and sexual violence, as part of a deliberate strategy to intimidate and displace communities.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the UK would submit a formal referral to the ICC, urging the court to issue arrest warrants for senior RSF commanders. ‘The evidence is clear. The RSF has carried out a campaign of terror against the Sudanese people. There can be no impunity for such grave violations,’ Lammy said in a statement.
The UN report, compiled by a team of independent experts, details incidents of mass killings in the towns of El Fasher and Nyala, where RSF forces are alleged to have targeted ethnic minorities. Witness accounts describe summary executions, the burning of villages, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. The report also highlights the RSF's recruitment of child soldiers, some as young as 12.
Sudan’s transitional government, already grappling with a fragile peace process, has condemned the RSF’s actions but faces internal pressure from factions aligned with the paramilitary group. Analysts suggest the ICC referral could deepen political instability in the country, which has been mired in conflict since the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, emerged from the Janjaweed militias that fought in the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s. Despite a 2020 peace agreement, the group has been accused of maintaining parallel security structures and undermining civilian rule. The UK’s move signals a shift towards more assertive international action, following years of diplomatic pressure that yielded little concrete progress.
Human rights organisations have welcomed the UK’s referral but caution that the ICC’s capacity to investigate effectively is limited without cooperation from Sudanese authorities. ‘The ICC can only act if evidence is preserved and witnesses are protected. The international community must ensure that Sudan does not obstruct justice,’ said a spokesperson for Amnesty International.
The ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, has indicated willingness to pursue the case but stressed the need for member states to provide resources and security guarantees. Sudan is not a party to the Rome Statute, meaning the ICC’s jurisdiction would require a UN Security Council referral or an invitation from Khartoum.
The UK’s announcement coincides with increased diplomatic activity in the region, with the African Union and Arab League seeking to mediate between Sudan’s civilian and military factions. However, the RSF’s continued influence remains a stumbling block. ‘This is not just about accountability. It is about sending a signal that state-sponsored violence will not be tolerated,’ Lammy added.
The situation in Darfur remains volatile, with reports of fresh clashes between the RSF and armed opposition groups. The UN has warned that over 300,000 people have been displaced this year alone, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has left millions in need of aid.
