Public safety & negligenceCourts & justice

Two ICC-wanted Darfur suspects left Khartoum's Kober prison in April 2023 and remain at large; Sudan's army and the RSF blame each other.

Confidence: Confirmed · 4 sourcesSudan · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council and army commander

Ahmad Harun, Former Sudanese minister; ICC suspect

Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, Former Sudanese defence minister; ICC suspect

Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)

Also named

Oversight

International Criminal Court

What happened

During fighting in Khartoum in April 2023, former minister Ahmad Harun said he and other inmates were freed from Kober prison; former defence minister Abdel Raheem Hussein was also held there. Both are wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes in Darfur. Sudan's military denies involvement and blames the Rapid Support Forces, while the RSF says the army released them; JusticeInfo reports it is unclear who opened the prison. The ICC lists Harun as still at large and not transferred to The Hague.

Sources (4)

CNNAhmed Haroun, a former Sudanese minister wanted by the ICC on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, said he was freed from Khartoum's Kober prison along with other inmates amid the fighting.

Voice of AmericaFormer Sudanese officials, including ICC-wanted Ahmed Haroun, left Kober prison amid the fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, raising questions about the whereabouts of other detainees.

JusticeInfo.NetAnalysis of how ICC suspects held at Kober prison, including Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Hussein, came to be freed during the April 2023 unrest and who bears responsibility.

International Criminal Court (Harun case page)Ahmad Muhammad Harun remains at large; the case is in the pre-trial stage because the suspect has not been arrested and transferred to the seat of the Court.