The Hague, October 7 (Darfur24)
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has called for the arrest of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Ahmed Haroun, and Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein, who are wanted in connection with atrocities committed in Darfur.
The call came after the ICC’s historic conviction on Monday of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, known as “Ali Kushayb,” which the Prosecutor’s Office described as a pivotal step toward ending impunity for crimes committed in Darfur.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Prosecutor’s Office highlighted that the charges against Haroun are closely linked to those against Kushayb, underscoring the importance of bringing all remaining fugitives to justice.
“We are working to ensure that Kushayb’s trial is the first in a series of trials related to the situation in Darfur,” said Deputy Prosecutor Nuzha Khan.
The statement added that Kushayb’s conviction sends a strong message to perpetrators of past and current atrocities in Sudan that justice will ultimately prevail. It also praised the courage of victims’ legal representatives, whose persistence over the years was crucial to achieving this milestone ruling.
On Monday, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I found Kushayb guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Bindisi, Mukjar, and Deleig between 2003 and 2004.
The Chamber ruled that the evidence presented during the trial proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Kushayb was responsible for murder, torture, outrages upon personal dignity, and persecution, both as a direct perpetrator and as an accomplice to Janjaweed and Sudanese government forces.
Kushayb was found guilty of ordering war crimes and crimes against humanity during operations in Bindisi, including attacks on civilians, forcible transfer, persecution, and destruction of property. He was also convicted as an accomplice in the murder, attempted murder, and torture of at least 200 detainees during the Mukjar and Deleig operations.