Tue Nov 18 08:43:21 UTC 2025: Headline: ICC Prosecutors Seek Life Sentence for Sudanese Militia Leader Convicted of Darfur Atrocities

The Hague, Netherlands – International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, who was convicted last month of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan’s Darfur region during the early 2000s. The prosecution alleges Abd-Al-Rahman was a key leader in the Janjaweed militia, a government-backed force responsible for mass killings, rapes, and widespread destruction.

During sentencing hearings this week, prosecutor Julian Nicholls urged the ICC judges to impose the maximum penalty, describing Abd-Al-Rahman as an “enthusiastic, energetic and effective perpetrator of abuses.” Nicholls even highlighted the brutal nature of the crimes, stating Abd-Al-Rahman personally murdered two people with an axe.

Abd-Al-Rahman’s defense lawyers, who are arguing for a seven-year sentence, are expected to present their case over the next two days. Since his trial began in April 2022, Abd-Al-Rahman has maintained his innocence, claiming mistaken identity and denying that he is “Ali Kushayb.” He argues that the ICC has the wrong man.

Abd-Al-Rahman fled to the Central African Republic in 2020 when the Sudanese government announced it would cooperate with the ICC investigation. He claims he surrendered out of desperation, fearing for his life.

The Darfur conflict, which saw fighting break out between non-Arab tribes and the Arab-dominated government, resulted in an estimated 300,000 deaths and displaced 2.5 million people, according to the United Nations. The Janjaweed militia, now known as the Popular Defence Forces, played a central role in the violence.

The ICC is also considering issuing further arrest warrants related to the ongoing crisis in Sudan, which has seen a resurgence of violence and atrocities between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group with origins in the Janjaweed militia. The current conflict has created what the African Union calls “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced.

Read More