The Hague, Netherlands – Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have called for a life sentence for Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, who was convicted of crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s.

Prosecution Calls for Maximum Penalty

During the sentencing hearing on November 18, prosecutor Julian Nicholls described Abd-Al-Rahman as an “enthusiastic, energetic, and effective perpetrator of abuses” in western Darfur. He highlighted the brutality of his actions, noting that Abd-Al-Rahman personally killed two people with an axe, earning him the label of an “axe murderer.”

“Only a life sentence will serve the interest of retribution and deterrence,” Nicholls told the court in The Hague.

Defence Argues for Reduced Sentence

Abd-Al-Rahman’s lawyers are seeking a seven-year sentence, arguing mitigating circumstances. They will present their case over the course of the hearings on November 18–19.

Last month, Abd-Al-Rahman was convicted of 27 counts, including mass murder, rape, and leading attacks by the Janjaweed militia, a government-backed paramilitary force in Darfur from 2003 to 2004. This marked the first ICC conviction for crimes in Darfur.

Abd-Al-Rahman Claims Mistaken Identity

Since his trial began in April 2022, Abd-Al-Rahman has denied being Ali Kushayb, claiming the court has the wrong man. Judges have rejected this claim.

He fled to the Central African Republic in February 2020 when Sudan’s new government agreed to cooperate with the ICC. He later turned himself in, citing fear for his life.

Background: Darfur Conflict

The Darfur conflict erupted when non-Arab tribes rebelled against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government over systematic discrimination. In response, the government unleashed the Janjaweed militia, now called the Popular Defence Forces, which targeted mainly Black African communities.

• UN estimates: 300,000 killed, 2.5 million displaced in the 2000s conflict.
• Current Sudan crisis: Tens of thousands killed, 12 million displaced, with ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group tracing its origins to the Janjaweed.

ICC’s Continuing Role

The ICC is expected to issue more arrest warrants in connection to the ongoing violence in Sudan, as the conflict continues to create what the African Union has described as the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”