In a landmark ruling for international justice, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–al-Rahman, widely known as Ali Kushayb, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Darfur conflict more than two decades ago.
The conviction marks the first time the ICC has delivered a verdict related to atrocities in Darfur, holding a senior militia commander accountable for his role in one of the 21st century’s deadliest humanitarian crises.
Kushayb, a leading figure in Sudan’s notorious Janjaweed militia, was convicted on 27 counts of murder, rape, persecution, and other inhumane acts carried out between 2003 and 2004, when government-backed forces sought to crush a rebellion in western Sudan.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner announced that the court was “convinced beyond reasonable doubt” of Kushayb’s guilt, adding that sentencing would follow at a later date. The 64-year-old defendant, who had long denied the charges, showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read in The Hague.
“The accused was not only giving orders but was personally involved in the beatings and was physically present during the execution of detainees,” said Judge Korner.
The court detailed harrowing evidence of mass killings, gang rapes, and assaults committed under Kushayb’s command. In one attack, he reportedly oversaw the execution of around 50 civilians after ordering his men to beat them with axes and shoot them dead.
Prosecutors said Kushayb, a powerful tribal leader, played a central role in coordinating assaults with Sudanese government troops as part of a broader campaign to terrorize and displace ethnic groups linked to rebel movements.
Originally indicted in 2007 on more than 50 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Kushayb evaded capture for years before surrendering to the ICC in 2020 in the Central African Republic.
The conflict in Darfur, which erupted in 2003, killed an estimated 300,000 people and forced over 2.5 million from their homes. The ICC has also issued arrest warrants for other senior Sudanese figures, including former president Omar al-Bashir, who remains wanted on charges of genocide.
Human rights advocates welcomed the conviction as a long-overdue victory for survivors.
“This verdict delivers long-awaited justice for Darfur’s victims and reaffirms that impunity will not last forever,” said a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch.
The ruling comes as Sudan faces renewed violence between rival military factions, prompting fears that new atrocities could once again unfold in the war-torn region.
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