The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, widely known as Ali Kushayb, of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Darfur conflict in Sudan more than two decades ago. The landmark verdict marks the first conviction by the ICC related to atrocities in Darfur and is being hailed as a major step toward justice for victims of one of Africa’s most brutal conflicts.
Abd-Al-Rahman, a former senior commander of the Janjaweed militia, was found guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution, torture, and attacks on civilians. Presiding Judge Joanna Korner announced the unanimous verdict, stating that Abd-Al-Rahman “encouraged and gave instructions that resulted in the killings, rapes, and destruction committed by the Janjaweed.”
The 64-year-old, who showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out, faces a maximum life sentence. His sentencing will be determined at a later date.
The Janjaweed militias, notorious for their campaign of terror against non-Arab communities in Darfur between 2003 and 2004, were accused of carrying out widespread killings, mass rapes, and village burnings under orders from then-President Omar al-Bashir’s regime. The court ruled that the attacks were part of a deliberate government strategy to suppress a rebellion in the region.
During the trial, 56 witnesses testified about the horrors of the Darfur conflict, recounting massacres, mass sexual violence, and the destruction of entire communities. Judges concluded that Abd-Al-Rahman personally participated in some of the atrocities, including the execution of prisoners and the brutal killing of two men with an axe.
The conviction has been welcomed by human rights groups, victims, and international observers as a long-awaited victory for justice. “Finally, a victory for justice, and justice for the victims of Darfur,” said Enaam al-Nour, a Darfuri human rights defender and journalist. The ICC’s Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan also celebrated the ruling, saying it “sends a resounding message to perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan, both past and present, that justice will prevail.”
The Darfur conflict, which erupted in 2003, left an estimated 300,000 people dead and displaced more than 2.7 million others, according to United Nations figures. The ICC has also charged former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir with crimes including genocide, though he remains in custody in Sudan and has not been handed over to The Hague.
Human rights advocates described the conviction as a “landmark moment” for international justice and a warning to those still committing atrocities in Sudan, where a new wave of violence continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a group that evolved from the Janjaweed. The ongoing conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, fueling a severe humanitarian crisis.
Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, called the ruling “a long-awaited milestone for Darfur’s victims,” urging governments to support further prosecutions. “With Sudan still engulfed in violence, this verdict should motivate the global community to pursue accountability by all available means,” she said.
As Sudan continues to suffer under renewed conflict, the ICC’s conviction of Ali Kushayb serves as both a historic reckoning for past crimes and a reminder of the ongoing need for justice and protection for civilians caught in the cycle of violence.
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