Judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) have handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a leader of the notorious Sudanese Janjaweed militia for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the devastating conflict in Darfur over twenty years ago.
Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was convicted in October on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These included giving orders for mass executions and personally using an axe to bludgeon two prisoners to death in 2003-2004.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Julian Nicholls emphasized that Abd-Al-Rahman committed these crimes knowingly and with enthusiasm. The presiding judge, Joanna Korner, imposed a joint sentence of 20 years after individual sentences ranging from eight to 20 years for each conviction.
The prosecution office of the ICC stated that they would review the sentencing decision to determine if further action, including an appeal for a life term, would be pursued. They highlighted the severity of Abd-Al-Rahman’s crimes, which involved murders, rapes, torture, and persecution carried out with extreme cruelty and violence.
Abd-Al-Rahman’s atrocities were part of a government-led plan to suppress a rebellion in Darfur. While the maximum sentence by the ICC is 30 years, judges have the discretion to extend it to life imprisonment in severe cases. The time Abd-Al-Rahman spent in detention before and during the trial will be deducted from his sentence.
Despite the crimes dating back more than two decades, ongoing violence in Darfur due to civil war underscores the importance of accountability. ICC prosecutors are actively collecting evidence from recent violent incidents in the region, aiming to address the broader pattern of violence that continues to afflict Darfur.
Judge Korner emphasized that ICC sentences serve as a deterrent to prevent future crimes, particularly relevant given the current situation in Sudan.