Sudan Establishes Office to Investigate Crimes Against Humanity

September 20, 2005 – Sudan announced the establishment of an Attorney’s Office for Crimes Against Humanity. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Sudan’s minister of justice, issued a decree establishing the agency. According to reports, the agency will be responsible for investigating allegations of crimes against humanity as defined by Sudan’s Criminal Procedures Act of 1991, international humanitarian law, international conventions Sudan has ratified, and other relevant law.

Despite this announcement, skepticism remains about the organization’s ability to complete its mission. Evidence of the Khartoum government’s complicity in attacks on civilians in Darfur and other conflict-ridden regions of the country raises questions about the motivation behind establishment of the office and the agency’s ability to investigate crimes to which the government has been linked.

Updated September 20, 2005

Learn more about the International Criminal Court                         
 +Read More