In a historic decision that reverberated far beyond the walls of The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) on October 6, 2025, found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman—known as Ali Kushayb—guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the brutal Darfur conflict. The verdict, delivered after years of painstaking investigation and testimony, marks the first conviction by the ICC related to the Darfur crisis and the first ever ICC conviction for gender-based persecution.
The trial, presided over by Judge Joanna Korner alongside Judges Reine Alapini-Gansou and Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor, concluded that Abd-Al-Rahman, a notorious Janjaweed commander, was guilty beyond reasonable doubt for ordering, supporting, and directly participating in widespread and systematic attacks against non-Arab communities, including the Fur and Masalit, in West Darfur between August 2003 and April 2004. The crimes—committed in towns such as Kodoom, Bindisi, Mukjar, and Deleig—included murder, rape, persecution, torture, and attacks on civilians.
According to Al Jazeera, the verdict was unanimous. Judge Korner stated, "The chamber is convinced that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes with which he has been charged. Its verdicts are unanimous." The 355-page ruling recounted harrowing details from 74 witnesses, including testimonies of entire villages being razed, men executed, and women and girls subjected to gang rapes. One survivor described, "The entire town was on fire. … It was beyond words to describe this. After the attack, [the village] was a rubble of ashes, … corpses scattered everywhere."
The scale of violence was staggering. As BBC and UN News reported, Janjaweed militias—armed and supported by Sudan’s security forces—were tasked with crushing a rebellion by non-Arab groups, resulting in what the United Nations later called one of the gravest humanitarian crises of the early 21st century. The UN estimates that 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced during the 2000s conflict in Darfur.
Abd-Al-Rahman’s crimes were not isolated acts. The ICC found he was a direct perpetrator of murder and torture, as well as outrages upon personal dignity and persecution. As a co-perpetrator, he jointly committed murder, attempted murder, and torture with Janjaweed and Sudanese government forces, particularly during the Mukjar and Deleig operations, involving at least 200 captives. He also ordered the Janjaweed to commit murder, rape, attacks against civilians, pillaging, forcible transfer, and other inhuman acts during the Kodoom and Bindisi operations. Four additional charges were dismissed as their underlying conduct was already covered by the other counts for which he was convicted.
Abd-Al-Rahman’s path to justice was long and tortuous. After evading authorities for over 12 years, he fled to the Central African Republic in February 2020 when Sudan’s transitional government signaled willingness to cooperate with the ICC. He surrendered shortly thereafter, telling the court he was “desperate” and feared for his life. The trial began in April 2022 and featured 1,861 items of evidence and the participation of over 1,500 victims through their legal representatives.
Throughout the proceedings, Abd-Al-Rahman denied all charges, even claiming, "I am not Ali Kushayb. I do not know this person," during a December hearing. Yet, the evidence was overwhelming. As Amnesty International highlighted, the verdict is a "significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for crimes committed in Darfur more than two decades ago." Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said, "This long overdue verdict goes some way in providing justice for the victims of Ali Kushayb and should serve as a warning to those committing abuses in the context of the ongoing Sudan conflict that they will one day be held individually accountable."
The conviction comes at a moment of renewed crisis in Sudan. The Janjaweed militias, once government-backed Arab tribal forces, have since evolved into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are now embroiled in a civil war with the Sudanese army since April 2023. Reports of mass killings and ethnically targeted attacks have resurfaced in Darfur. In September 2025 alone, at least 91 civilians were killed in El Fasher during RSF strikes involving drones and ground incursions, as reported by UN News.
The ICC’s Deputy Prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, called the verdict “a crucial step toward closing the impunity gap in Darfur,” adding that it “sends a resounding message to perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan, both past and present, that justice will prevail.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk echoed this sentiment, describing the decision as “an important acknowledgment of the enormous suffering endured by the victims of his heinous crimes” and a “first measure of long-overdue redress.”
The legal process isn’t over yet. Abd-Al-Rahman’s sentencing will follow, and he faces a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A reparations phase for victims will also be opened, offering some hope of redress for the thousands who continue to suffer the consequences of the Darfur conflict. The ICC Prosecutor’s Office continues to pursue outstanding warrants for Sudan’s former president Omar al-Bashir, former Interior Minister Ahmad Harun, and ex-Defence Minister Abdel Raheem Hussein—all accused of similar crimes. These warrants remain unexecuted, as Sudan has yet to hand over these individuals to The Hague.
Calls for broader accountability have grown louder in the wake of the verdict. Amnesty International has urged the United Nations Security Council to extend the ICC’s mandate from Darfur to the entirety of Sudan, arguing that comprehensive justice for all victims requires international cooperation and support. The organization also called on ICC member states to enforce all outstanding arrest warrants and provide the Court with the political and financial backing needed to investigate ongoing violations.
Despite the challenges—including US sanctions and political resistance—the ICC’s resolve has not wavered. As the conflict in Sudan continues to displace millions and claim lives, the conviction of Ali Kushayb stands as a testament to the persistence of international justice and the courage of survivors who dared to testify. The verdict is not just a legal milestone; it is a message to those who commit atrocities that accountability, though delayed, remains possible.
As the world watches the next steps unfold, the hope is that this landmark case will inspire further action to address impunity not only in Darfur but wherever such crimes occur.
