The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first and only permanent International Court of Justice with jurisdiction to prosecute people for international genocide crimes, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression crime, which are intended to supplement, not to replace them, the criminals of war. (Photographic Credit: Nicolas Economou/Nurphoto via Getty Images)
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On October 6, 2025, the Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) handed over the first belief In the situation in Darfur, Sudan, about two decades after the burning campaign left hundreds of thousands of dead in the area. The trial chamber unanimously establish Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rhman (Ali Kushayb) guilty of 27 categories of crimes against humanity and war crimes and his role in attacks against fur, Masalit and other non -Arab communities between August 2003 and March 2004 on West Darfur. At all times, Ali Kushayb was a senior leader of Janjaweed super-government militia. The case also represents the first conviction for gender -based prosecution.
The Scorched-Earth campaign refers to genocidal atrocities since the beginning of this century. Starting in 2003, the Sudanese government and an Arab militia active in Sudan, especially in the Darfur area, Janjaweed, They systematically attacked non-Arab communities, notably Masalit, Fur, Barti and Zaghawa, the burning of whole villages and systematic murder, rape and displacement-all under the false guise of targeting rebels. Despite the clear indications, the international community has failed to greatly take specific measures to protect populations at risk.
In March 2005, the UN Security Council reported the situation in Darfur in ICT for investigations into genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It was the first time the UN Security Council successfully refers to a situation in the ICC. In 2009 and 2010The ID issued arrest warrants for former Sudan Omar Al-Bashir President. Omar Al-Bashir was the first president to want from the ICC and the first person to be charged by the ICC for the crime of genocide. None of the two arrest warrants against him have been imposed and remains “in general”.
The milestone decision follows the tradition of Ali Kushayb to the Central African Republic and was transferred to the editing of the ICC on June 9, 2020, initially appeared before the ICC on June 15, 2020. Five years later, Ali Kushayb was guilty of any reasonable doubt:
- As an immediate perpetrator for murder and torture as crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as personal dignity as a crime and prosecution of war as a crime against humanity.
- As a co -owner, for the Joint Committee with the forces of Janjaweed and/or the Sudan government, compared to at least 200 prisoners and/or prisoners during Mukjar and Deleig operations, murder, murder and torture as crimes and crimes and crimes against crimes and crimes against as a crime against humanity.
- In order to order Janjaweed to commit, during Kodoom and Bindisi, murder and rape as war crimes and crimes against humanity, the attack on a political population, eliminates personal dignity, plundering and destroying the enemy. and violent transfer of population, persecution and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity.
Among the findings of the milestone crisis was to find rape as a war crime and a crime against humanity, including gender -based crimes. In this respect, the chamber found that the attack resulted in rape of women and girls, causing deep physical, cultural and social damage to the victims. He further noted that Ali Kushayb was guilty of the crime against the humanity of prosecution of men by the Fur tribe for politicians, ethnic and sex.
The chamber was not admitted to conviction in four measurements, believing that the criminal behavior that committed these measurements was already covered by other accusations for which a conviction was expressed.
The decision is followed by a thorough investigation. The prosecution was based on the testimonies of 81 witnesses and 1,521 objects from the total of 1,861 submitted to the chamber, including documents by the Sudan government and the United Nations, satellite images, photos, videos and social media positions.
As next steps, the chamber will impose the proposal on Ali Kushayb and open a phase dedicated to victims’ compensation.
The belief comes as Darfur and Sudan widely flooded in a violent conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support (RSF) from April 2023. In January 2025, then Foreign Minister Antony Blinken Minister Antony Blinken announced This, based on his estimation, the members of the RSF and the Allied militias had committed genocide in Sudan during this new conflict. The ICC has confirmed that the alleged crimes committed by April 2023 are under the jurisdiction of the court and will also be examined. Commenting on the belief, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shamem Khan He said: “Mr. Abd-al-Rhman’s belief is a crucial step towards the closure of the dishonest gap in Darfur, sends a loud message to the perpetrators and children in Sudan, both past and present, that they will be prevalent and their righteousness and that they will prevail for them to be Kids.
