The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, to 20 years in prison. The sentence was delivered on Tuesday for his role in atrocities committed during the civil war in Darfur, Sudan, more than two decades ago.
Conviction and Sentencing
Kushayb, aged 76, was convicted in October on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is the first individual to be tried by the ICC for offenses related to the Darfur civil war.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner stated that Abd-Al-Rahman "not only gave the orders which led directly to the crimes but... also personally perpetrated some of them."
The charges against Kushayb centered on attacks conducted between 2003 and 2004. Judge Korner noted that Kushayb had issued orders to "wipe out and sweep away" non-Arab tribes, instructing soldiers to "don't leave anyone behind. Bring no one alive."
The ICC indicated that the sentence aims to ensure "retribution and deterrence," with deterrence being "particularly apposite... given the current state of affairs in Sudan."
Context of the Darfur Conflict
The original Darfur conflict, which occurred between 2003 and 2020, involved allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide targeting the region's non-Arabic population. The conflict began after the then-Arab-dominated government armed the Janjaweed militia to suppress an uprising by rebel groups from black African ethnic communities. The Janjaweed systematically attacked non-Arab villagers, who were accused of supporting the rebels. During Kushayb's trial, survivors testified about the destruction of their villages, killings of men and boys, and instances of sexual slavery.
Connection to Current Events
Darfur is currently a key battleground in an ongoing civil conflict in Sudan, opposing Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militia. Reports from the UK, US, and various rights organizations have accused the RSF of conducting ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities in Darfur since the current conflict began in 2023. The RSF has denied these accusations.
Further Proceedings
Many individuals displaced by the initial Darfur crisis remain displaced. The ICC continues to hold outstanding arrest warrants for other Sudanese officials, including former President Omar al-Bashir, who faces charges of genocide, which he denies. Bashir was reportedly placed in military custody following a coup in 2019.