ICC Secures First Conviction for Darfur War Crimes
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - In a landmark ruling, the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, a former Janjaweed militia commander, of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, Sudan, in 2003 and 2004. The verdict, delivered Tuesday, marks the first conviction by the ICC related to the devastating conflict in the Darfur region.
The conviction holds profound importance as it represents a crucial step toward accountability for atrocities committed during the Darfur war, which claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000 people and displaced over 2.5 million. Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of 13 counts of war crimes,including murder,rape,and persecution,and four counts of crimes against humanity. The case underscores the ICC’s commitment to prosecuting those responsible for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, even in regions facing ongoing instability.
During the trial, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan asserted that Abd-Al-Rahman and the Janjaweed militia “rampaged” through Darfur, inflicting “severe pain and suffering” on civilians. Khan detailed how villages were left devastated in the wake of the militia’s attacks,with women,children,and men subjected to horrific violence.
The Janjaweed, initially a collection of armed groups, later evolved into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), currently engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) as 2023. The RSF faces accusations from the United States,the United Nations,and other international bodies of perpetrating another genocide in Darfur,resulting in widespread displacement,famine,and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The U.S.State Department issued a genocide determination in May 2024, and has imposed accountability measures.
