Payne Calls on U.N. Security Council to Advance Darfur War Crimes Probe

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) released the following statement today marking the 10th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593, which referred the conflict in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.

“It has been ten years since the conflict in Darfur was referred to the International Criminal Court, yet none of the charged individuals have been brought to justice,” said Congressman Payne, Jr. “In fact, some of these individuals, including Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, continue to commit atrocities against innocent civilians.”

“The victims of Darfur deserve justice, and that means it is essential to hold accountable those responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” added Congressman Payne, Jr. “I urge the U.N. Security Council to take immediate and comprehensive action to ensure those responsible for the mass atrocities in Darfur are arrested and made to stand trial before the International Criminal Court.”

On March 31, 2005, the U.N. Security Council referred the crimes in Sudan's western Darfur region to the International Criminal Court. Four years later, on March 4, 2009, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir became the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the International Criminal Court. Al-Bashir was indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The U.N. estimates that 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced as a result of the Darfur conflict.

Late last year, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, announced that she was “shelving” her investigation due to a lack of cooperation by the U.N. Security Council.

Congressman Payne, Jr. is calling on the U.N. Security Council to take affirmative steps toward restoring justice in Darfur by advancing the International Criminal Court’s war crimes probe. These steps include encouraging U.N. member states to cooperate in arresting accused individuals and bringing those individuals to account before the International Criminal Court.