9th of December each year marks the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The day is to honor the victims and to reaffirm that this horrific crime should not be allowed to happen ever again.
This day was marked for the very first time in 2015 to condemn the horrific crime and to commit to its prevention. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on 29 September 2015, assigned a specific day under its Resolution 69/323. The convention confirms that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or war, is a crime under international law.
The Genocide Convention gave the first international legal definition of genocide: “Genocide means any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such:
- Killing members of the group
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”
Despite this legal framework, thousands of innocent human beings continue to be the victims. The day signifies the international community’s determination to address risks and prevent atrocities. It is an occasion for member states to reaffirm their commitment to international cooperation and tackle emerging threats.
Read More: What Is Happening in Sudan and Why It Is Not Getting the Attention It Deserves
Those Bearing and Shaping Sudan’s Fate
Sudan’s ongoing crisis offers a stark reminder of why the International Day of genocide prevention remains deeply relevant today. The situation reflects how political instability and power struggles lead to targeted violence and can gradually push a country towards mass atrocities.
The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo have both committed war crimes, though RSF actions, particularly in West Darfur, exhibit the clearest evidence of genocidal intent.
RSF and allied local militias have systematically killed, raped, looted and displaced Masalit communities, with over 760,000 fleeing to Chad. Even the statement of calling the genocide a Genocide is considered a crime, as the former Governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abubaker, was murdered for this sole crime!
The Unfolding Saga of Sudanese Wars and Atrocities
Historically, Sudan has been a conquered state shaped by successive empires and colonial exploitation. Sudan’s internal conflicts have deep historical roots that trace back to its independence in 1956. Tensions between the Arab dominated North and the African South emerged over political representation, religion and access to resources.
These divisions triggered the First Sudanese Civil War ( 1955-1972) even before independence, as southern groups sought autonomy. The war ended with the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972, granting the south limited self-governance, but many underlying issues remained unresolved.
The Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005) erupted when the government under President Jafar Nimeiri attempted to impose Sharia law nationwide and revoke Southern autonomy. During this period, the Nuba population resisted government control, leading to prolonged battles and a severe humanitarian crisis, including mass displacement. The conflict in the Nuba Mountains symbolized the struggle of marginalized communities against the central authority.
In 2003, a somewhat related conflict broke out in Darfur. Ethnic African rebel groups accused the government of favoring Arab communities while neglecting development in Darfur. The government armed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed, did systematic attacks on villages, mass killings and the displacement of millions. The Darfur crisis became one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in Sudan’s history, drawing international condemnation and calls for intervention.
In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed, granting Southern Sudan semi-autonomous status and promising a referendum on independence within six years. After the death of Sudanese Vice President John Garang, Salva Kiir Mayardit became Vice President of both Sudan and Southern Sudan.
Read More: UN Rights Chief Briefs Council on Desperate Conditions in Sudan’s El Fasher
By 2011, Southern Sudanese voted overwhelmingly for independence and South Sudan became a sovereign nation on 9 July 2011. However, independence did not end conflict; nine out of ten states experienced violence and tensions persisted between President Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar.
A new civil war erupted in 2013 after Kiir dismissed his cabinet, including Riek Machar, amid accusations of a coup attempt. By 2014, Approximately 457,000 persons were displaced in Darfur and 160,000 in South Kordofan.
The crisis worsened and by 2015, Approximately 1.6 million people remained internally displaced within South Sudan, including many who were seeking shelter in remote rural areas, and another 160,400 people were sheltering in Protection of Civilian sites (PoCs) at UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) bases across the country, triggering food shortages and disease.
A peace deal was signed in August 2015, yet conflict flared again between 2016-2018, with Machar briefly reinstated as vice president before renewed fighting caused further displacement and famine.
From 2018-2022, despite peace agreements and international interventions, insecurity remained widespread. By 2019, millions of South Sudanese faced food insecurity and sexual violence remained endemic.
In late October 2025, the city of EL Fasher fell to RSF following a devastating 500-day siege that caused widespread starvation, with reports indicating at least 60,000 people were killed. The violence continues to escalate.
These conflicts illustrate a pattern in Sudan, long-standing grievances over ethnicity, religion and resource distribution repeatedly erupt into violence, destabilizing the country.
Humanitarian Catastrophe: Displacement and Famine
The world’s biggest humanitarian crisis is leaving more than half of the nation’s population in need of humanitarian aid. Both sides are using starvation as a weapon and blocking humanitarian assistance. According to the Famine Review Committee (FRC), El Fashir in north Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan are facing famine.
With an estimated 9.5 million people still internally displaced. Many of these families live in devastated towns and villages where food, shelter and basic services are virtually nonexistent. In addition, nearly 4.34 million Sudanese have fled to neighbouring countries, primarily Egypt, South Sudan and Chad, seeking safety.
The current scenario is marked by continuous conflict and a struggling peace process. The RSF controls almost all of Darfur and a bit of neighboring Kordofan. The SAF controls most of the north and the east.
Read More: Sudan’s Military Leader Rejects US-Backed Ceasefire Plan
Recent Efforts to Halt Atrocities and Ensure Accountability
Regionally and internationally, coordinated diplomacy has intensified to contain Sudan’s crisis. In September 2025, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the United States issued a joint statement reaffirming that Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved and that the conflict has no military solution.
The Quad called for immediate humanitarian access, protection of civilians under international law and a three-month truce leading to a permanent ceasefire. They further emphasized an inclusive, civilian-led transition not controlled by any warring faction and urged an end to all external military support that fuels the war.
The Quad also committed to supporting negotiations involving SAF and RSF, securing humanitarian corridors, safeguarding the Red Sea region and countering extremist actors who exploit instability.
The International Criminal Court became involved in Darfur after the UN Security Council referred the situation in March 2005 through Resolution 1593, allowing the Court to investigate crimes committed since 1 July 2002 despite Sudan not being a State Party to the Rome Statute.
The ICC has issued warrants for senior Sudanese officials, including former President Omar al-Bashir the first sitting head of state charged with genocide and has maintained outreach to Darfuri refugees in Eastern Chad and across Europe.
In 2020, Abd-Al-Rahman became the first suspect to face trial, resulting in the ICC’s first conviction in the Darfur situation. The conviction has been described by ICC prosecutors and UN officials as a long-overdue step toward justice.
Sudan’s long trajectory of mass violence, ethnic persecution and state-driven brutality shows why the international community cannot allow genocide risks to go unchecked. From the UN Security Council’s referral of Darfur to the ICC to the continued involvement of the United States and regional partners in pushing for ceasefires, accountability and humanitarian access, these efforts represent a shared responsibility to confront atrocity crimes wherever they emerge.
As millions of Sudanese remain displaced and communities again face targeted attacks, the message of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide becomes even more urgent. This day serves as a reminder that justice, prevention and the protection of vulnerable populations are not symbolic commitments they are obligations grounded in the suffering of people.
Sudan’s experience reinforces why the world must honor victims not only by remembering their pain but by strengthening global mechanisms that deter future atrocities, uphold dignity and ensure that those responsible for mass violence are held to account.
