World Court Opens Trial Of Darfur Militia Leader

Posted by African Examiner African News, Europe, Latest Headlines, World News Monday, May 24th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The trial of a warlord charged with war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region began before an international tribunal on Monday, about 15 years after investigations into the alleged atrocities started.

Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said as the case kicked off, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman was accused of murder, rape and torture in 31 incidents related to ethnic fighting that plagued the Sudanese region two decades ago.

The court’s initial job is to confirm the charges, after which the formal trial can begin.

It was not clear when this initial ruling would be expected.

Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, surrendered to the court last year.

According to the charges, he was one of the key leaders in the Janjaweed, a thousand-strong militia that operated in Darfur between 2003 and 2006, and was responsible for the deaths of 300,000 people.

Prosecutors said that, between August 2003 and March 2004, he was responsible for murders, torture, plundering, rapes and forced relocations.

The UN estimated that nearly two million people fled violence during the fighting.

Bensouda called the case an important step towards justice.

This would be her last appearance in the role. She stepped down from the job at the end of June and was set to be replaced by British lawyer Karim Khan.

Bensouda noted that the UN Security Council requested an investigation into Darfur in 2005 and added that the probe has been plagued by difficulties.

The court also wants to try former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who remained in custody in Sudan after he was ousted from power in 2019. He was wanted on genocide charges. (NAN)