Sudan has revealed the registration of 120,594 criminal cases against leaders, members, and collaborators of the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) across various states of the country. In his address before the United Nations Security Council on Friday, Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harith Idris Harith, stated that 3,997 of these cases have already been referred to national courts. A total of 6,168 court sessions have been held, with verdicts delivered in 1,093 cases, while 2,904 cases remain under judicial review.
A Crime of Aggression
Ambassador Harith, in his statement to the Security Council, called on the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to include individuals and entities from foreign countries—both from neighboring states and within the African region—especially prominent regional backers, in the ICC›s investigations. He cited their roles in fueling the conflict, supplying logistical support, smuggling weapons, and providing drones and provisions to the RSF, which enabled the group to occupy parts of Sudanese territory with the help of foreign mercenaries in an attempt to establish a parallel government. The ambassador described these actions as a new “crime of aggression”, emphasizing the need to hold these actors accountable to end the prevailing culture of impunity. He also urged the international community to provide sufficient financial, logistical, and political support to the ICC to enable it to fulfill its mandate in investigating the grave crimes being committed in Darfur. He warned that continued impunity threatens not only peace and security in Darfur but also undermines transitional justice and national reconciliation efforts throughout Sudan.
The National Investigation Committee
The National Committee for Investigating Violations of National and International Humanitarian Law featured prominently in Ambassador Harith’s statement. He highlighted that the committee, an independent body formed by the Sudanese government and comprised of legal and judicial experts, has broad powers to investigate any party involved in such crimes. Ambassador Harith detailed the committee›s formation, mandate, and authority, as well as the violations it has documented since the outbreak of the RSF rebellion on April 15, 2023. These include atrocities in El Geneina (West Darfur) and Zalingei (Central Darfur), as well as crimes committed by the rebels in Al-Jazira State. He also noted that the committee has filed criminal cases against RSF elements for acts of genocide against the Masalit ethnic group in El Geneina and the Ardamata massacre, and for the assassination of West Darfur Governor General Khamis Abdallah Abkar in June 2023. The ambassador reaffirmed the committee’s willingness to cooperate with the international community and welcomed any technical or logistical support, provided that such cooperation complements—rather than replaces—the national judicial process, in line with the principle of complementarity.
No to Impunity
Despite the brutal war waged by the RSF against the state and its citizens, political analysts have praised Sudan’s commitment to justice and the fight against impunity, commending the government›s pursuit of a transparent national justice process rooted in rule of law, sovereignty, and institutional ownership of justice mechanisms. Sudan has consistently warned against the politicization of international justice mechanisms and urged the ICC to remain a legal instrument for justice, not a platform for political score-settling or pressure against sovereign nations. The international community, particularly human rights organizations and stakeholders, is urged to support the national investigative committee as the primary mechanism for delivering justice in Sudan. Technical and logistical assistance to the committee would enhance its effectiveness and establish a genuine partnership between Sudan and the international community.
Legal and Political Implications
Observers noted that Ambassador Harith’s address before the Security Council carried significant legal and political weight. It reaffirmed Sudan’s adherence to its international obligations, while emphasizing its aspiration for a justice process grounded in genuine national will. This, they argue, leaves the ICC with only two paths: either to respect Sudanese sovereignty and engage in constructive partnership, or to risk losing credibility by persisting in a course of politicization and selective justice. Many analysts believe the ambassador’s remarks could positively reshape Sudan’s relationship with the ICC, fostering mutual respect and conditional cooperation, while also promoting a more rational dialogue on supporting transitional justice in Sudan—free from political manipulation and media exploitation. This is especially important given the ongoing exposure of the RSF’s repeated violations of international and humanitarian law.
A Significant Conclusion
Ultimately, Ambassador Harith Idris Harith’s statement to the UN Security Council was not merely a diplomatic rebuttal to the ICC Prosecutor’s report. Rather, it was a redefinition of the boundaries of potential partnership with the ICC—founded on respect, sovereignty, and national justice that holds no less legitimacy than international processes. He affirmed that Sudan is not against justice, but firmly opposes selective and politicized approaches
