August 5, 2024
Mr. President,
Allow me first of all to convey to you our very best wishes for a successful presidency in August.
I thank Prosecutor Khan for his report and briefing. The mission entrusted by this Council to the International Criminal Court in Darfur remains essential in a context where the conflict, plaguing the whole of Sudan, compromises the stability of the country and the region.
France is concerned by continued clashes in the city of El-Fasher in North Darfur, and by the fact that they are spreading in the state of Sennar. We condemn this escalation and the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated since April 2023. In the face of the extent of the crimes allegedly committed in Darfur and in the rest of the country, it is urgent that all parties act at all levels to ensure the protection of the civilian population. Officials at the highest level must issue instructions to this effect.
The parties took part negotiations on humanitarian issues, conducted under the auspices of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, held in Geneva in July. These efforts must continue to lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, these efforts must draw on international and regional peace initiatives stated in the Declaration of Principles, adopted in Paris on April 15, 2024. We support the work of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, and we support all efforts led by the United States, the region and by Sudan’s neighbors. We call upon the two parties to participate in Geneva peace talks from August 14 onwards.
In the light of the Prosecutor’s report, we reiterate our appeal for all foreign actors to refrain from fuelling the conflict by arming, financing or logistically supporting the parties.
The fight against impunity contributes to restoring peace in Sudan. In this respect, we commend the increased attention paid to crimes committed against children and sexual crimes.
We welcome the significant and expeditious progress by the Office of the Prosecutor in its inquiries into the widespread allegations of allegations of international crimes in Darfur, thanks to extensive field deployments on the ground in Chad and Port Sudan to gather testimony and evidence.
All parties must cooperate with the Office of the Prosecutor and uphold their commitments undertaken following Resolution 1593 (2005), as well as the Juba Peace Agreements and the memorandums agreed with the Office of the Prosecutor. The issuance of visas to the investigation team of the Office of the Prosecutor support for the Office’s deployments in Port Sudan, and the provision of information in response to its requests for assistance are positive developments. We encourage the Sudanese authorities to broaden this cooperation.
France welcomes continued progress being made in the Abd-Al-Rahman and Ali Kushayb case. This trial represents a crucial turning point for the survivors and families of the victims.
We commend increased cooperation between the Office of the Prosecutor and third states as well as with international organizations and Sudanese civil society organizations, which have enabled the Court’s various investigations.
You can count on France’s support for the Court, the only international criminal court which is permanent and with a universal vocation in its mission entrusted to by this Council in Darfur.
Thank you.