ICC sentences Janjaweed leader Ali Abd-Al-Rahman to 20 years in prison for war crimes in Sudan's Darfur

The Hague, Netherands (PANA) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday sentenced Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (Ali Kushayb) to 20 years of imprisonment following the Trial judgement in which the Chamber found him guilty of 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and April 2004.

A statement by ICC said to determine this sentence, the Trial Chamber I of considered the gravity of the crimes and the personal circumstances of the convicted person, and other factors, including the degree of participation, intent of the convicted person, and the harm caused to victims.

The Chamber also took into account some mitigating factors. 

The maximum penalty under the Rome Statute is 30 years of imprisonment, or life imprisonment when justified by the extreme gravity of the crime and the individual circumstances of the convicted person.

The period of his detention since 9 June 2020 will be deducted from the total time of imprisonment imposed on Abd-Al-Rahman, the judgement said.

The statement said the Prosecution and the Defence may appeal the sentence within 30 days.

It said the Chamber also issued an order for submissions on reparations with the relevant timeline and guidance for this process in this case. Appeal proceedings against the trial judgment are pending at the moment.

On 6 October 2025, Trial Chamber I found Ali Abd-Al-Rahman guilty of 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and April 2004. 

ICC Trial Chamber I analysed the evidence submitted and discussed before it at the trial and found that Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, a Janjaweed leader, was guilty beyond any reasonable doubt, of the following:

• as a direct perpetrator for murder and torture as crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime and persecution as a crime against humanity.
• as a co-perpetrator, for the joint commission with Janjaweed and/or Government of Sudan Forces, in relation to at least 200 captives and/or detainees during the Mukjar and Deleig Operations, of murder, attempt murder and torture as war crimes and crimes against humanity, outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime, and persecution as a crime against humanity.
• for ordering the Janjaweed to commit, during the Kodoom and Bindisi Operation, murder and rape as war crimes and crimes against humanity, attack against a civilian population, outrages upon personal dignity, pillaging and destroying the enemy’s property as war crimes; and forcible transfer of population, persecution and other inhuman acts as crimes against humanity.

On 6 November 2025, the Defence filed its notice of appeal against the conviction.

Kushayb is the first suspect to be tried and convicted by the ICC for atrocities committed during the conflict in Darfur.

-0- PANA MA 9Dec2025