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Sudan Militia Leader on Trial after ICC Places Charges

Sudan Militia Leader on Trial after ICC Places Charges

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber II overwhelmingly confirmed all allegations against Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman on Friday. As a result, Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was ordered to stand trial in front of a trial chamber.

Abd-Al-Rahman is a key commander of the Janjaweed militia and one of the tribal hierarchy's most senior commanders in the Wadi Salih area. He is a member of the People's Defence Forces as well (PDF). He is accused of leading pro-government efforts that resulted in the displacement of 40,000 people and the death of 300 civilians by opposing Sudanese rebel organizations.

Even though the arrest warrant specifies 53 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the court established strong evidence that Abd-Al-Rahman is guilty for 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and April 2004.

The following charges have been levelled against Abd-Al-Rahman: deliberately directing attacks against civilians as a war crime; murder as a crime against humanity and a war crime; pillaging as a war crime; destruction of an adversary's property as a war crime; other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity; outrages against personal dignity as a war crime; rape as a crime against humanity.

Finally, it is noteworthy that Abd-Al-Rahman has been in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since June 2020, when he voluntarily surrendered in the Central African Republic. He made his first appearance before the ICC not long after. The confirmation hearing for the charges was held in May 2021 in front of the court. Only the court's decision can be appealed with the approval of the court.