“ICC Sentences ‘Kushayb’ to 20 Years in Prison”
The Hague – Sudanhorizon – Maryam Abshir
The International Criminal Court on Tuesday issued a 20-year prison sentence against Mohamed Ali Abdelrahman, known as “Ali Kushayb,” one of the most prominent leaders of the Janjaweed militia, after convicting him of charges including war crimes committed in the Darfur region more than twenty years ago. Darfur community associations quickly welcomed the verdict, describing it as “historic.”
In November, ICC prosecutors had demanded a life sentence for Kushayb.
Prosecutors stated that the 76-year-old former militia leader committed crimes including murder and issuing orders to others to carry out mass atrocities.
Prosecutor Julian Nichols said during a special session held to determine the sentence that the accused had once used an axe to kill two people.
He added that Kushayb played a major role in the violations witnessed in the Darfur region more than 20 years ago.
Ali Kushayb had voluntarily surrendered to the authorities of the Central African Republic before being transferred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague on 9 June 2020, where his pre-trial proceedings began.
The Darfur Community Associations described the verdict as historic.
In a statement received by Sudanhorizon, the associations affirmed their firm and principled position in supporting the path of international justice and in securing redress for the victims of Darfur and Sudan as a whole, as well as reinforcing the principle of no impunity for anyone who has committed crimes against innocent civilians.
The associations stressed that all those who committed genocide and horrific crimes in El-Geneina, Zamzam, El-Fasher, and other areas of Darfur and Sudan will face the same fate as Kushayb, and that justice will reach them no matter how long it takes or how hard they try to evade accountability.
They renewed their call for comprehensive and uncompromised justice for all survivors and victims, and also called for continued efforts to build a new Sudan based on equal citizenship, human dignity, the rule of law, and justice.
A delegation from the Darfur Community Associations in the United Kingdom arrived today in The Hague to attend the sentencing session of Ali Kushayb at the International Criminal Court.
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