On January 19, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan briefed the United Nations Security Council on her office’s ongoing investigation in Darfur, Sudan, though she had to participate remotely after being denied a visa to travel to New York City. This restriction followed sanctions imposed in 2025 by the Trump administration on several ICC officials, including Khan, complicating the court’s ability to carry out its mandate.
During the briefing, Khan highlighted the continuing deterioration of the situation in Darfur. She reported that in October 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out mass killings and other serious abuses in El Fasher, North Darfur. Her office’s findings indicate that the RSF is replicating a “pattern of atrocities” across different regions of Darfur, emphasizing the urgent need for states to provide additional support and resources to aid the ICC’s investigations.
The ICC has been investigating serious crimes in Darfur since 2005 following a referral by the Security Council. In 2025, 20 years after that referral, the court secured the conviction of Ali Kosheib, a former Janjaweed militia leader, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 2003–2004. Kosheib was sentenced to 20 years in prison, marking the first time victims in Darfur witnessed a measure of justice through the ICC.
Khan stressed that, given the ongoing conflict and impunity in Sudan, the ICC’s role remains critical to delivering justice and preventing further atrocities. She warned that the US sanctions threaten the court’s capacity to operate effectively on a global scale.
Following the briefing, Security Council members expressed regret over Khan’s inability to attend in person and reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the principles of the ICC. They emphasized the need for concrete actions to protect the court, ensure its resources, and encourage the revocation of US sanctions that hinder the ICC’s crucial work in Darfur and beyond.
