The International Criminal Court held a status conference on 21 July 2026 in the case of the Prosecutor v. Abdallah Banda Abakar Norain, during which the Office of the Prosecutor formally gave public notice that it is withdrawing the charges against Mr. Banda. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan’s office said the decision follows years of reassessment showing the evidence no longer supports a reasonable prospect of conviction.
The Darfur Network for Human Rights (DNHR) recognizes the prosecution’s obligation to proceed only where the evidence can sustain a conviction, and understands that maintaining a case built on unreliable testimony would not serve justice. At the same time, DNHR shares the concern raised by victims’ representatives that withdrawal after 19 years risks compounding the sense of abandonment already felt by Darfuri communities awaiting accountability. DNHR notes that the withdrawal is without prejudice to future charges, and calls on the Office of the Prosecutor to pursue new evidence vigorously, particularly given its recently reported progress in linking other Darfur crimes to senior perpetrators.
Read the full press release below.
