The leader of the notorious Janjaweed militia, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was found guilty by the International Criminal Court for his significant role in orchestrating atrocities in Darfur, Sudan, over two decades ago. This marks the first conviction by the court related to crimes in Darfur. The court’s three-judge panel determined that the brutal acts, which included mass killings and rapes, were part of a government strategy to suppress a rebellion in the region.
During the trial, Abd-Al-Rahman, clad in a suit and tie and listening attentively, displayed no emotions as Judge Joanna Korner pronounced 27 guilty verdicts against him. The sentencing will take place at a later date, with the possibility of a maximum life sentence looming over him. He was held accountable for leading Janjaweed militia forces in Darfur during a violent campaign in 2003-2004.
The court affirmed that Abd-Al-Rahman actively encouraged and directed the killings, rapes, and destruction carried out by the Janjaweed forces. Despite pleading innocent to all 31 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Abd-Al-Rahman’s defense was dismissed by the judges. Four charges were not individually addressed as they were encompassed by other charges for which he was convicted.
Witness testimonies during the trial revealed the gruesome violence and the use of rape as a weapon to instill fear and subjugate women. One witness recounted Abd-Al-Rahman’s alleged directive to fighters during a massacre, urging them to continue their brutal actions. The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 when rebels from the region’s ethnic communities launched an insurgency against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.
The atrocities in Darfur, orchestrated in response to the rebellion, resulted in mass killings, rapes, torture, and forced displacements. The campaign led to the deaths of up to 300,000 people and the displacement of 2.7 million others from their homes in Darfur. Sudan’s former president, Omar al-Bashir, who initiated a scorched-earth campaign in response to the rebellion, has also been charged with crimes, including genocide, by the ICC.
The verdict against Abd-Al-Rahman comes amid ongoing reports of atrocities and famine in Sudan, particularly between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the country’s military. The conflict, which began in 2023, has claimed the lives of at least 40,000 individuals and displaced millions. The dire situation has left over 24 million people facing acute food insecurity in Sudan, according to the World Food Program.
The conviction of Abd-Al-Rahman by the ICC is seen as a significant step towards justice for the victims of the Janjaweed terror in Darfur. Liz Evenson, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the importance of this landmark conviction in bringing accountability and justice to the victims and communities affected by the Janjaweed atrocities.
