News|Sudan warICC convicts ex-Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb of war crimes in DarfurThe 27 guilty verdicts are the first handed down by The Hague-based court over war crimes in the Sudanese region in the 2000s.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted a Sudanese militia commander of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in attacks in Darfur over 20 years ago.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted a Sudanese militia commander of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in attacks in Darfur over 20 years ago.
Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, was found guilty on Monday at the ICC in The Hague of multiple offenses, including murder, rape, torture, and forcible transfer, committed between August 2003 and March 2004.
The conviction includes 27 guilty verdicts related to the activities of the Janjaweed militia, marking the first ICC rulings on atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner stated, "The chamber is convinced that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes with which he has been charged. Its verdicts are unanimous."
Abd-Al-Rahman will face sentencing at a later date, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment possible.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted a Sudanese militia commander of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in attacks in Darfur over 20 years ago.
The trial featured testimonies from 56 prosecution witnesses who detailed incidents of violence and the use of rape as a weapon of war. Witnesses described entire villages being destroyed and widespread sexual violence by militia forces.
Abd-Al-Rahman denied the charges, asserting that he was not the individual known as Ali Kushayb. He fled to the Central African Republic in February 2020 before surrendering, citing fear for his life.
Abd-Al-Rahman's actions occurred during the 2003 conflict in Sudan, where Arab tribal militias, including the Janjaweed, were employed by the government to suppress non-Arab insurgents in Darfur. These militias later evolved into the Rapid Support Forces, which have been engaged in a civil war with the Sudanese army since April 2023.
The United Nations reports that 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s. Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir remains wanted by the ICC for similar charges.
The ICC continues to monitor ongoing reports of crimes against humanity in Sudan, as recent evidence suggests the persistence of such offenses during the ongoing civil conflict.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
