In a historic first,the International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted former Sudanese militia commander Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman — widely known as Ali Kushayb — of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the brutal Darfur conflict over two decades ago.
The verdict,delivered on Monday (6 Oct),marks the ICC’s first conviction related to the Darfur atrocities. Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty on 27 counts,including rape,murder,persecution,and mass executions carried out by the Janjaweed militia,which he led under the regime of then-President Omar al-Bashir. Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said Abd-Al-Rahman not only gave orders but personally participated in atrocities,including bludgeoning two prisoners to death with an axe and overseeing the execution of dozens of civilians. His forces were responsible for widespread terror,killing up to 300,000 people and displacing nearly three million during the 2003–2004 scorched-earth campaign.
The trial,which opened in April 2022,heard from 56 prosecution witnesses who recounted harrowing violence. Abd-Al-Rahman denied all charges,claiming mistaken identity,but judges rejected his defense,citing video evidence where he identified himself as Ali Kushayb. United Nations officials hailed the conviction as a long-overdue step toward justice. The verdict represents (an important acknowledgment of the enormous suffering endured by the victims of his heinous crimes,as well as a first measure of long overdue redress for them,and their loved ones,”” said OHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango. Abd-Al-Rahman’s sentencing is pending,with life imprisonment as the maximum penalty. Meanwhile,Darfur continues to suffer renewed violence amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war,raising urgent questions about justice,peace,and accountability.
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