New york: Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Al-Harith Idris, has emphasized the country’s openness to exchanging expertise with international judicial bodies, underlining that such cooperation is intended to complement, not replace, the national judicial process.
According to Sudan News Agency, Ambassador Al-Harith affirmed the readiness of the National Committee to Investigate Crimes and Violations of National Law and International Humanitarian Law to collaborate with the international community. The ambassador highlighted the committee’s openness to receiving technical and logistical support to enhance its capabilities. This cooperation aligns with the principle of legal complementarity, ensuring that international assistance supplements national efforts.
Ambassador Al-Harith addressed the Security Council in response to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court’s report, detailing the National Committee’s efforts in informing the ICC about its formation and mandate, as well as violations recorded in Sudan since April 15, 2023. These include crimes committed by rebel militias in areas such as West Darfur, particularly involving the Masalit tribe, and other significant incidents.
The ambassador further explained that the National Committee has been responsive to the ICC’s requests for judicial cooperation regarding crimes in Darfur. The Committee has provided evidence and witness testimonies gathered since April 2025. A delegation, led by the Attorney General, visited the ICC headquarters in The Hague in December of the previous year to explore cooperation avenues, and a subsequent ICC delegation visited Sudan in April.
Ambassador Al-Harith reported that a significant number of lawsuits have been filed against rebel militia leaders and collaborators, totaling 120,594 criminal cases across Sudanese states. Of these, 3,997 have been referred to regular courts, resulting in 6,168 court sessions. To date, 1,093 cases have been resolved, while 2,904 remain pending.