A Sudanese militia leader has been convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity that occurred over two decades ago in the Darfur region. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, more commonly known as Ali Kushayb, was the head of the Janjaweed, a government-supported militia responsible for widespread atrocities in Darfur, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
First trial of its kind by the ICC
Kushayb’s trial marked a significant moment as he became the first individual to stand trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the horrific acts committed during the Darfur conflict. Throughout the legal proceedings, he maintained that he was a victim of mistaken identity. This brutal conflict, which spanned from 2003 to 2020, has been classified as one of the most severe humanitarian crises of our time.
Evidence of atrocities emerges
During the trial, numerous survivors recounted harrowing tales of devastation, detailing how their villages were razed, men and boys were executed, and women were subjected to sexual enslavement. The charges against Kushayb are specifically associated with violent incidents that took place between 2003 and 2004. The judges of the ICC concluded that the Janjaweed employed ruthless methods—including mass killings, sexual violence, and torture—that were often orchestrated by Kushayb and his forces.
Prior to the announcement of the verdict, a small assembly of Darfuri individuals gathered outside the court in The Hague, eager to witness the proceedings. They expressed a clear understanding of Kushayb’s significant role in their suffering, with one survivor emphasizing:
“He was the one who gave the orders. He was the one who got the weapons. So if you ask me if he was important in Darfur, I will tell you he was one of the most important ones.”
The conflict in Darfur ignited when the Arab-dominated government of the time armed the Janjaweed to quash a rebellion by black African ethnic groups. This led to systematic assaults on non-Arab villagers accused of supporting the insurgency, sparking allegations of genocide.
Even today, similar acts of violence persist in Darfur amidst the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Many former Janjaweed fighters have transitioned into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that is currently engaged in conflict against Sudan’s army. Since the onset of renewed fighting in 2023, the RSF, along with various human rights organizations, has faced accusations from the UK and US of committing ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities in the region.