A team tasked with investigating violations in Sudan's Kordofan and Darfur regions has begun initiating criminal proceedings against Sudan Armed Forces commanders over drone strikes targeting civilian objects. The move aims to safeguard the public interest and hold those responsible for crimes accountable. This development follows the establishment of the team under Decision No. 4 of 2026, issued by the Attorney General.
The investigation team, led by Assistant Attorney General Ahmed Al-Nour Al-Halla, is mandated to investigate international and humanitarian crimes. The team's responsibilities include collecting information, complaints, and data relating to incidents within their jurisdiction, interviewing witnesses, and documenting incidents and evidence. Their work is being carried out in accordance with professional and legal standards to ensure the preservation of evidence for potential future trials.
According to Al-Halla, the team is compiling comprehensive case files on alleged violations, treating them as criminal incidents requiring investigation and determination of individual responsibility based on evidence. The team's work is guided by the principle that criminal responsibility is personal, and anyone found to have participated in or assisted in the commission of a crime will be held accountable under the law.
The investigation team has begun engaging with relevant authorities to obtain available information, testimonies, and reports while observing legal safeguards for the protection of witnesses and evidence. Al-Halla denied that the investigation into international crimes was linked to any political considerations, stressing that the case is not subject to political bargaining.
Ahmed Eissa Abu, legal adviser to the government of East Darfur State, stated that alleged violations committed by the Sudanese army against civilians in Kordofan and Darfur warranted accountability under Sudanese criminal law or international humanitarian law. He emphasized that the army directly targeted civilian objects, which is an explicit violation of international humanitarian law.
The alleged drone strikes have prompted the initiation of criminal proceedings against General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces. According to Abu, the attacks were carried out under al-Burhan's direction, making him accountable for the alleged crimes. The investigation team's efforts aim to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that such incidents do not recur.
The investigation team's work is a significant step towards ensuring accountability for alleged crimes committed in Sudan's conflict-ridden regions. By pursuing those responsible for drone strikes targeting civilians, the team is upholding the principles of international humanitarian law and human rights law. The outcome of the investigations and potential trials will be closely watched by human rights organizations and the international community.
Key points
- The investigation team has started criminal proceedings against Sudan Armed Forces commanders over drone strikes targeting civilians.
- The team's work is guided by the principle that criminal responsibility is personal.
- The investigation aims to safeguard the public interest and hold those responsible for crimes accountable.
