The International Criminal Court’s Trial Chamber I has sentenced Abd-Al-Rahman, widely known as Ali Kushayb, to 20 years in prison for atrocities committed during the Darfur conflict.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, follows his conviction on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, persecution, and attacks on civilians between 2003 and 2004.
Judges found that Abd-Al-Rahman not only issued orders that led to mass violence but also took part directly in some of the killings. According to the chamber, he personally joined attacks and, in certain instances, carried out killings using an axe.
The court highlighted the severe suffering endured by survivors and the lasting trauma inflicted on communities across Darfur, saying the sentence was intended to deliver justice and discourage future violations.
Now aged 76, the consolidated 20-year prison term means he will likely remain incarcerated for the rest of his life. Time he has already spent in custody since surrendering in 2020 will count toward the sentence.
The Darfur conflict erupted in the early 2000s after non-Arab groups accused Sudan’s government of marginalisation and took up arms. In response, the government mobilised Janjaweed militias, unleashing widespread killings, forced displacement, and sexual violence. The United Nations estimates that up to 300,000 people were killed and about 2.5 million displaced during the crisis.
