What's happened
The ICC has found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, including rape, murder, and torture. The verdict marks a significant step in justice for victims, amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises in Sudan. Sentencing will follow after hearings.
What's behind the headline?
The ICC's conviction of Abd-Al-Rahman signifies a pivotal moment in international justice for Darfur victims. It underscores the court's capacity to hold militia leaders accountable, even decades after the crimes. However, the ongoing conflict in Sudan, including renewed fighting since 2023, complicates the pursuit of justice and stability. The conviction may serve as a deterrent for future atrocities, but the broader political and military chaos in Sudan suggests that justice remains elusive for many victims. The case also highlights the persistent challenge of enforcing international law in conflict zones where state cooperation is limited or absent.
What the papers say
The articles from The Independent, The New Arab, and Al Jazeera collectively emphasize the significance of Abd-Al-Rahman's conviction, portraying it as a historic milestone in Sudanese justice. The Independent highlights the court's findings and the victims' hope for justice, while The New Arab details the atrocities committed and Abd-Al-Rahman's role in the Janjaweed militia. Al Jazeera succinctly notes the conviction's importance in the context of Darfur's long history of violence. Despite slight differences in focus, all sources agree on the importance of this verdict as a step toward accountability, amidst ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises in Sudan.
How we got here
The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when non-Arab rebels launched an insurgency against Sudan's government, which responded with brutal force, including the deployment of Janjaweed militias. The violence resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. The ICC has been investigating these crimes since 2005, with Sudanese officials, including former President Omar al-Bashir, remaining at large or in custody. The recent conviction of Abd-Al-Rahman is part of ongoing efforts to address these longstanding atrocities.
Go deeper
More on these topics
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The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands.
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Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir is a Sudanese politician who served as the seventh President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019, when he was deposed in a coup d'état. He was subsequently incarcerated, tried and convicted on multiple corruption charges.
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Darfur is a region of western Sudan. Dār is an Arabic word meaning "home [of]" – the region was named Dardaju while ruled by the Daju, who migrated from Meroë c. 350 AD, and it was renamed Dartunjur when the Tunjur ruled the area.