The UN Security Council Wednesday discussed the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Sudan’s Darfur region, with Pakistan calling “deeply troubling” the atrocities in the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rebel paramilitary group.
“The RSF must halt its assault on civilians and comply fully with international humanitarian law,” Pakistani delegate Gul Qaiser Sarwani told the 15-member Council as he condemned the grave abuses committed by the RSF in Darfur, including attacks against civilians, ethnically motivated killings, sexual violence, forced displacement, detentions and assaults on civilian infrastructure.
Earlier, briefing the Security Council, ICC’s Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Khan said her office has made major strides in investigating crimes committed recently in Darfur region, including linking grave crimes against civilians directly with the perpetrators.
Updating the Security Council on the Office’s progress in Darfur, she said it has made “real, concrete progress” in recent months. While not at liberty to speak directly about ongoing investigations, she nevertheless said it had conducted crucial interviews with key witnesses that have allowed the Court to draw direct links from crimes to perpetrators.
The briefing took place as the ICC faces mounting pressure: this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a campaign to “dismantle” the Court, which prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
In his remarks, the Pakistani delegate said the fall of El Fasher in October 2025, following a prolonged siege, and the crimes reported thereafter, are a stark reminder that impunity continues to fuel repeated cycles of violence.
“The crimes committed in Al Geneina, El Fasher and elsewhere in Darfur must not go unpunished,” Sarwani said, as he sounded an alarm about reports of a possible RSF offensive against El Obeid city.
“Given the pattern of atrocities witnessed in Darfur, such an escalation carries a grave risk of serious international crimes,” the Pakistani delegate said.
Sarwani called for “credible, timely and comprehensive” accountability, saying those most responsible for atrocity crimes must be held accountable, as should those who finance, facilitate or otherwise enable the commission of such crimes. Appreciating the cooperation extended by the Government of Sudan to the Prosecutor’s office, the Pakistani delegate emphasized that accountability must respect the principles of complementarity, national sovereignty and Sudanese ownership.
“Strengthening Sudan’s national justice institutions remains essential for credible, sustainable and locally anchored accountability.”
In conclusion, Sarwani reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.