Nairobi, December 5 (Darfur24)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue its ruling in the case of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, known as “Ali Kushayb,” on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
The hearing will take place publicly in the main courtroom at The Hague, where judges of the First Pre-Trial Chamber are expected to announce Kushayb’s sentence following months of legal arguments and testimony from victims and experts.
Kushayb, a former Janjaweed militia leader, was convicted by the ICC of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, making this the first conviction of its kind in relation to the conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives over more than two decades.
He surrendered to the ICC in 2020, shortly after the fall of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, having evaded arrest for more than 12 years. The verdict will determine his sentencing, which is subject to appeal. A reparations process for victims of his crimes is also expected to commence.
Legal experts highlight that Kushayb’s conviction represents several milestones for international justice: it is the ICC’s first ruling in the Darfur case, the first conviction stemming from a case referred by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1593 (2005), and the first ICC conviction for gender-based persecution.
The ruling is being closely watched by victims, legal and human rights communities, and the international audience, as a historic step toward accountability for the atrocities committed during Sudan’s Darfur conflict.