In April 2024, CEHRI, in collaboration with PAX, submitted a criminal complaint against former senior executives of OMV AG for aiding and abetting war crimes in Sudan during their business partnership with Lundin Energy AB, two former executives of which are presently standing trial in Stockholm. 

The complaint centres around acts committed between 1999 and 2003, which include systematic and deliberate targeting of civilians, the destruction of means necessary for survival, and enslavement. 

The Lundin trial presented evidence that OMV AG was aware of the international crimes committed to gain and maintain control over the oil fields in which its operations were based, yet continued to pursue its economic interests and in so doing, encouraged the criminal conduct of the Sudanese Government. Rather than abiding by the request of the Austrian Sudan Platform in 2001 to respect human rights and take responsibility for its impacts on the population, OMV AG continued its operation for another two years before selling its Sudanese assets in 2003, making a $50 million profit.

By the time OMV AG left Sudan, an estimated 12.000 people had died, 160.000 had been forcibly displaced, and their area of operation was thrown into abject poverty. The victims of the war crimes, are still waiting for recognition, justice, and reparations for the harm inflicted and its devastating effects. CEHRI hopes to finally uphold the right to remedy of the victims and signal to corporations linked to the commission of international crimes and serious human rights violations that they will not continue to evade criminal accountability.