ICC still gathering evidence on continuing war crimes in Darfur

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court continues to collect evidence on war crimes in Darfur. Nearly two years after the indictment of Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir on war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ICC says it has not stopped its inquiries.  Islam Shalaby, spokesperson of the Prosecutor’s Office, told Radio Dabanga from The Hague that recent crimes in Darfur have included abductions, denial of humanitarian access, aerial bombardment of villages and displacement of civilians, as well as attempts to forcibly close IDP camps, pushing the residents back to their villages against their will.  

According to Shalaby, the ICC is still monitoring the situation on the ground in Darfur on a daily basis. He explained that there is also an ongoing criminal investigation into the abductions of international staff of aid organizations, saying that such abductions are an “innovative and indirect” way for the government to fight the people of Darfur and halt the aid effort.