Justice Delayed, Victims Waiting ! The Urgent Need for Accountability in Sudan
By: Muawad Mustafa Rashid
The conflict in Sudan has evolved into one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. Entire communities have been uprooted, thousands of lives have been lost, and millions have been displaced. Alongside this human tragedy, allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law continue to emerge from several parts of the country, particularly in El Geneina and El Fasher.
Against this backdrop, the Sudanese Mission to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has voiced strong criticism of the International Criminal Court (ICC), expressing concern over what it describes as significant delays in issuing arrest warrants for individuals suspected of responsibility for atrocities committed during the conflict.
This criticism deserves thoughtful consideration—not as a political statement, but as part of a broader discussion about the effectiveness, credibility, and timeliness of international justice.
The International Criminal Court was established to ensure that those responsible for the world’s gravest crimes are held accountable when national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to do so. Its mandate is built upon the principles of independence, impartiality, and due process. Every investigation must meet rigorous legal standards, supported by credible evidence and conducted with respect for the rights of victims, witnesses, and the accused alike.
These safeguards are fundamental to the Court’s legitimacy.
Yet justice must also be delivered within a reasonable timeframe.
For victims and survivors, every day without visible progress prolongs uncertainty and deepens wounds that may never fully heal. Delayed accountability risks undermining public confidence in international institutions and may inadvertently encourage the perception that impunity remains possible even in cases involving the most serious international crimes.
The principle that “justice delayed is justice denied” is not merely a legal maxim; it reflects the lived experience of countless victims waiting for recognition, accountability, and closure.
At the same time, safeguarding judicial independence is equally essential. International justice cannot and must not become an instrument of political influence or diplomatic pressure. The credibility of the ICC depends upon its ability to make decisions based solely on law and evidence, free from external interference.
Justice requires both independence and urgency.
The international community therefore shares a collective responsibility to support accountability mechanisms through practical cooperation. This includes facilitating investigations, protecting witnesses, preserving evidence, strengthening international legal cooperation, and ensuring that judicial institutions possess the resources necessary to carry out their mandates efficiently and fairly.
Justice should never be viewed as an act of revenge. Rather, it is an indispensable pillar of peace, reconciliation, and the rule of law. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved where accountability is absent, nor can reconciliation flourish where victims believe their suffering has been forgotten.
Sudan’s future depends not only on ending the conflict but also on ensuring that truth, accountability, and justice become central components of national recovery.
As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold, the world must remember that behind every legal file lies a human story—a family seeking answers, a survivor seeking dignity, and a community longing for peace. International justice exists not simply to prosecute crimes but to affirm a universal principle: that no individual is above the law and that the rights of victims deserve meaningful protection.
History will ultimately judge the international community not by the number of resolutions adopted or statements delivered, but by its willingness to ensure that justice is credible, impartial, and timely.
We, in the Citizen newspaper, firmly believe that accountability is neither a political preference nor a diplomatic convenience. It is a universal legal and moral obligation. Justice must never be sacrificed to political calculations, nor should procedural complexity become an excuse for indefinite delay. The people of Sudan deserve a justice system that is independent, impartial, effective, and responsive to the urgency of their suffering.
Only through genuine accountability can confidence in international law be strengthened and the foundations for lasting peace be established.
This article reflects the views of The Citizen Newspaper on the importance of accountability, the rule of law, and the timely administration of international justice. It does not make legal findings regarding the criminal responsibility of any individual or entity, which remain matters for determination by competent judicial authorities in accordance with international law.