Ian Lundin, Alex Schneiter stand trial for aiding and abetting war crimes in Sudan between 1999-2003. The company, now known under the name Orrön stands to forfeit 2,2 Billion USD. The tens of thousands of people in South Sudan who lived through the horrors of the oil war could face justice but not remedy. 

Since September 5th, 2023 the court has been guided through 80.000 pages of written evidence, listened to 32 plaintiffs, the cross examination of the two accused managers of the Lundin oil companies operating in Sudan 1997-2003 and also heard 50 of the 60 experts and ex employees of the company. As the Human Rights Days are being heard the court case is on the final stretch. 

The prosecution is trying to demonstrate that the Sudanese Government’s method of warfare included systematic war crimes and that Ian Lundin and Alexandre Schneiter were aware of this, but nevertheless demanded the Government of Sudan to secure their operations, with dire consequences for the population. 

From 1983 to 2005, Sudan was torn apart by a civil war involving the government and a variety of armed groups, many from the Southern part of the country. Mid-1990s, international companies signed contracts with the Government of Sudan to exploit oil in areas that were not under government control, setting off a vicious war that would last until 2003. One of the worst affected areas was Block 5A, that had been awarded in 1997 to the members of the Lundin Consortium: IPC/Lundin Oil/Lundin Petroleum (now Lundin Energy), Petronas and OMV.  

Between 1997 and 2003, war crimes were routinely committed in what was essentially a military campaign by the Government of Sudan to secure the oil fields. This included intentional killing of civilians, burning of shelters, use of child soldiers, pillage, rape of women, abduction of children, torture, and forced displacement. Lundin’s activities in Block 5A coincided with a spectacular drop in agricultural land use that caused widespread poverty and hunger. Lundin sold its Sudanese assets in 2003 with $92 million profit which it invested successfully in Norway to become a multi-billion dollar enterprise. OMV sold its asset in 2003. By the time Lundin and OMV left the area in 2003, an estimated 12,000 people had died and 160,000 had been forcibly displaced. Petronas bought OMV’s share and continued the activities. All three companies deny any responsibility. 
How will the court case end and what are the repercussions in international jurisdiction of the Lundin War Crimes Case? And, most important, how will it affect the communities that lived through the atrocities?