The ICC directs the execution of outstanding arrest warrants for Al Bashir, Haroun, and Hussein
In an official statement, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court described the verdict against Ali Mohammed Ali Abdel-Rahman, known as “Ali Kushayb,” as a historic turning point in the path of international justice, and a pivotal step towards ending impunity for crimes committed in the region of Darfur.
The Office emphasized that the conviction establishes the principle of accountability and sends a resounding message to perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan, be it in the past or present, that justice will prevail and that crimes against innocent civilians will not go unpunished.
The statement issued by the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) called for the execution of arrest warrants issued against several Sudanese officials who remain out of trial, namely Omar Al-Bashir, Ahmed Haroun, and Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein. The statement noted that the charges against Ahmed Haroun are closely related to those for which Kushayb was convicted, which reinforces the importance of bringing him to trial within the framework of the international judicial process related to Darfur. For her part, Deputy Prosecutor NazhatKhan shared that Kushayb’s trial ought to be the first in a series of upcoming trials aimed at achieving comprehensive justice for the victims.
Furthermore, the Office of the Prosecutor’s statement reiterated that Kushayb’s conviction sends a strong message to those implicated in crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudan that international justice is timeless and that accountability will come, no matter how long it takes. The Office also commended the courage and resilience of the lawyers who represented the victims, noting that the judges’ decision is a formal recognition of their efforts and lengthy struggle to achieve justice in the face of complex legal and political challenges that spanned years.
On Monday, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) found Ali Mohammed Ali Abdel-Rahman, known as “Ali Kushayb,” the former Janjaweed militia leader, guilty of (27) counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Court explained that the evidence presented and discussed during the trial sessions established beyond reasonable doubt Kushayb’s involvement in a series of grave violations committed in Darfur, including murder, torture, persecution, and outrages upon personal dignity.
The International Criminal Court found Kushayb guilty of murder, torture, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime, and persecution as a crime against humanity. Additionally, he was found to have been involved, as an accomplice to Janjaweed forces and government forces, in carrying out acts of killing, attempted killing, and torture of at least (200 captives and/or detainees) during military operations in the Mukjar and Deleig areas. The aforementioned crimes, according to the Court, constitute a flagrant violation of International Law and confirm the appalling scale of atrocities committed against civilians in Darfur.
