ICC Investigate Alleged War Crimes After The Discovery Of Mass Graves In Sudan

International Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. (Wikimedia Commons/OSeveno)

Prosecutor Karim Khan, prosecutor, said the International Criminal Court (ICC) was investigating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan, along with the discovery of a mass grave in Darfur.

Fighting between government forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has spread to Darfur, Khan told the UN Security Council.

At least 87 bodies of ethnic Masalit and others, including women and children, have been found in a mass cemetery in Darfur, the UN Human Rights Office said on Thursday.

The United Nations says it has "trustworthy information" if the paramilitary orders the killing.

"I strongly condemn the killing of civilians and individual hors de combat, and I am more surprised by the disrespectful and disrespectful way towards the dead, along with their families and communities, being treated," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said. July 14th.

The United Nations also said local residents were "forced" to dispose of bodies in mass graves.

"We are investigating the allegations," Khan told the council.

"With any analysis, we are not in the brink of a human catastrophe, but in the midst," he continued.

"There are women and children, boys and girls, old and young, in fear of their lives, living in uncertainty amid conflict and their homes being burned," Khan said.

"Many of the people we are talking about will not know what will happen that night and what fate awaits them tomorrow," he said.

Khan further said the ICC was also investigating other charges in West Darfur including looting, killings outside the law and burning houses, as well as suspected crimes in North Darfur.

He said anyone inside or outside Sudan assisting or conspiring to commit crimes in Darfur would be investigated.

The prosecutor added that he had instructed his office to prioritize crimes against children and sexual and gender-based violence.

"We must act immediately, collectively, to protect the most vulnerable if the often repeated phrase 'Never again' means anything," Khan exclaimed.

It is known that at least 37 bodies were buried on June 20 in mass graves one meter deep in an open area called Al Turab Al Ahmar (Red Land), the United Nations said.

They were found 2-4km northwest of the Central Reserve Police headquarters west of El Geneina.

"50 other bodies were buried in the same place on June 21. The bodies of seven women and seven children were among those buried," the United Nations said.

It said the victims were killed around the same time when West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbaker was killed on June 14, after speaking out against crimes committed by RSF there.

Turk asked RSF to allow "search for victims who died, their collection and evacuation without distinction, including based on ethnic backgrounds - as required by international law".

In Sudan's conflict areas, civilian bodies and fighters were left lying on the ground for weeks, as morgues were full and paramedics were unable to care for those in need due to security situations.

It is known that the war broke out between the RSF and Sudanese troops on April 15 this year and continues, despite various ceasefire efforts by the United Nations, United States, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, Egypt and others.

The United Nations said one family had to wait 13 days in West Darfur before being allowed to retrieve the bodies of its family members who were killed around June 9 by the RSF.

"The leadership of the RSF and its allied militias as well as all parties involved in armed conflict must ensure that people who die are handled properly and their dignity is protected," said Turk.

"The RSF must record, or allow aid workers to note, all available information related to the death toll, including taking appropriate photos of the bodies and marking the location of the graves, with the aim of identifying to facilitate the return of bodies to families at their request," the United Nations said.