U.N. fact-finding mission says Sudan conflict amounts to widespread atrocities, urges ICC jurisdiction and arms embargo

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Sudan told a U.N. press conference that systematic attacks on civilians, repeated destruction of essential infrastructure and large-scale sexual violence across Sudan amount to crimes against humanity, and that the international community must strengthen accountability and protection measures.

"This war has been waged not only by the armed forces, but more importantly, serious violations of human rights and IHL by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Response Forces," said Mona Rishmaue, a member of the mission, listing torture, summary executions, sexual violence and attacks on hospitals, markets and water stations as central findings. She said the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias "laid siege to the city for more than 500 days" before Al Fashir fell this week and that attacks on internally displaced person camps such as Zamzam and Abu Shook have left thousands killed, wounded or displaced.

Joy Ngozi Zello, also a mission member, said the mission's new report, Parts to Justice: Accountability for Atrocities…