In a landmark ruling on October 6, 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered its first-ever conviction related to the Darfur conflict, finding former Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman—widely known as Ali Kushayb—guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This decision, handed down unanimously by the ICC’s Trial Chamber I, marks a watershed moment in the long and painful quest for justice by survivors of one of the 21st century’s most devastating conflicts.
Ali Kushayb, once a senior commander in the notorious Janjaweed militia, stood trial for atrocities committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004 in West Darfur. The charges included murder, persecution, torture, rape, forced displacement, and attacks on civilian populations. According to BBC, the verdict is the first of its kind for crimes committed in Darfur, as well as the first ICC conviction for gender-based persecution—a significant development in international criminal law.
The Darfur conflict, which erupted more than 20 years ago, saw then-President Omar al-Bashir’s government respond to rebel uprisings with a brutal campaign of aerial bombings and ground assaults, often carried out by Janjaweed forces. Villages were razed, and non-Arab communities—primarily the Fur, Masalit, Barti, and Zaghawa—were systematically targeted. The United Nations estimates that up to 300,000 people lost their lives and over two million were displaced during the conflict, which has left deep scars on Sudanese society.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, reading the verdict, 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 panel of three ICC judges based their decision on extensive evidence, including the testimonies of 81 witnesses and over 1,500 pieces of evidence ranging from government documents to satellite imagery and social media posts. During the trial, survivors recounted harrowing tales of mass executions, torture, and gang rapes—crimes used as weapons of war to terrorize and punish entire communities.
The case against Ali Kushayb began after his voluntary surrender in the Central African Republic in June 2020. He appeared before the ICC later that month, facing 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The trial, which opened in April 2022, saw 1,591 victims participate—a testament to the enduring hope for justice among Darfur’s survivors. The ICC ultimately convicted him on 27 counts, with the Chamber noting that some criminal conduct overlapped across charges.
This conviction is more than just a legal milestone; it is a long-awaited acknowledgment of the suffering endured by the people of Darfur. As Mossaad Ali, Executive Director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), put it: “This conviction is a long-overdue recognition of the suffering endured by Darfuri victims and a resounding affirmation that impunity for atrocity crimes will not stand. After nearly two decades, survivors have finally witnessed a moment of accountability. It is a powerful step toward justice and healing.”
Magdi El Na’im, Executive Director of the Sudan Human Rights Monitor (SHRM), echoed these sentiments, commending the courage of victims and witnesses who came forward and urging “continued international support to ensure further accountability for all perpetrators of crimes in Darfur.”
The judgment carries particular significance for its recognition of gender-based persecution. The ICC found that males from the Fur community were targeted due to their ethnicity, political affiliation, and gender. The Chamber observed that “a victim can suffer a higher risk of victimisation because of the intersection of different factors of discrimination.” This sets a precedent for future international prosecutions involving gender and intersectional discrimination.
Ali Kushayb’s conviction comes amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Since April 2023, the country has been gripped by a brutal civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—the latter a direct successor to the Janjaweed militia. The violence has led to renewed allegations of mass killings and ethnically targeted attacks in Darfur, raising fears of another unfolding genocide. In January 2025, then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly assessed that RSF members and allied militias had committed genocide during the recent fighting. The ICC has confirmed that alleged crimes committed since April 2023 also fall within its jurisdiction and will be investigated.
The ICC’s authority to prosecute these crimes stems from a 2005 referral by the United Nations Security Council, following the Rome Statute’s provisions for investigating genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This case is the first to arise from that referral and the first to yield a conviction. Despite the progress, several high-profile suspects—including former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir—remain at large. Al-Bashir, the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC for genocide, is currently held in Sudanese custody on separate charges, but has not been transferred to The Hague to face international justice.
Human rights organizations, including FIDH, ACJPS, and SHRM, have called on Sudanese authorities and the international community to cooperate fully with the ICC, execute outstanding arrest warrants, and ensure that all those responsible for atrocities in Darfur are brought to justice. They also urge the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor to expedite investigations into crimes committed during the ongoing conflict and to apply for new arrest warrants without delay.
For the victims and survivors of Darfur, the road to justice remains long. The ICC’s conviction of Ali Kushayb is only the beginning. Millions remain displaced, facing dire shortages of food, healthcare, and basic services. Many have never received official recognition or support for their suffering. As Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: “The convictions of Ali Kushayb represent an important acknowledgment of the enormous suffering endured by the victims of his heinous crimes, as well as a first measure of long overdue redress for them, and their loved ones.”
Looking ahead, the ICC will soon determine Ali Kushayb’s sentence, with life imprisonment as the maximum penalty. A reparations phase will follow, focusing on providing meaningful, victim-centered redress. Advocates stress that reparations must be inclusive, transparent, and shaped by the needs and voices of affected communities—justice, after all, is not complete without healing and restoration.
The conviction of Ali Kushayb stands as a historic affirmation that even the most powerful perpetrators of atrocity crimes can be held to account. As Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan noted, “The conviction of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman is a crucial step towards closing the impunity gap in Darfur. It sends a resounding message to perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan, both past and present, that justice will prevail, and that they will be held accountable for inflicting unspeakable suffering on Darfuri civilians, men, women and children.”
While the verdict cannot undo the horrors of Darfur’s past, it offers a measure of hope—and a warning—that the world is watching, and that justice, though sometimes delayed, is not denied.
