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The International Criminal Court’s historic conviction of former Janjaweed leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman marks a turning point for justice in Africa — and a sobering reminder to leaders still implicated in abuses.
In a landmark ruling that reverberates across Africa, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and April 2004.
The verdict — hailed as “long overdue” by human rights defenders — marks the first conviction related to the Darfur atrocities since the UN Security Council’s 2005 referral to the ICC.
A Historic Step Toward Justice
Reacting to the judgment, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said the decision represents a “significant milestone” in the pursuit of justice for victims of the Darfur conflict.
“This long overdue verdict goes some way in providing justice for the victims of Ali Kushayb and should serve as a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for crimes committed in Darfur more than two decades ago,” said Chagutah.
“The conviction should serve as a warning to those committing abuses in the context of the ongoing Sudan conflict that they will one day be held individually accountable.”
Chagutah further urged the United Nations Security Council to extend the ICC’s mandate from Darfur to the entire territory of Sudan, where fresh atrocities have emerged amid the ongoing civil war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
A Message to Those in Power
The ICC’s verdict carries a clear message: no perpetrator, no matter how powerful or politically connected, is beyond the reach of justice.
This message is particularly relevant for Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and other long-serving African leaders who have been accused of overseeing state violence, human rights violations, and suppression of dissent.
While Museveni has often criticized the ICC as biased against African leaders, the conviction of Kushayb underscores the principle that time does not erase accountability. Crimes against humanity — from Darfur to Kampala — remain prosecutable under international law, regardless of office or influence.
“This verdict should spur ICC member states to urgently enforce all outstanding arrest warrants in the Darfur situation, including against former Sudan President Omar al-Bashir,” Chagutah added, calling on states to enhance political and financial support for the ICC.
Lessons for Uganda and the Region
Uganda, like Sudan, has faced accusations of state-backed violence, particularly in the handling of opposition movements, protests, and security operations.
Human rights activists argue that the Kushayb conviction is a warning sign to those in power who rely on military suppression and impunity.
The ICC’s persistence — even in the face of U.S. sanctions and political resistance — demonstrates that the wheels of justice, though slow, continue to turn. For regimes across Africa, it serves as a reminder that accountability can outlive power.
Background: A Long Road to Justice
The trial of Ali Kushayb began in April 2022, two decades after the atrocities in Darfur, in which hundreds of thousands were killed and millions displaced. As a principal leader of the Janjaweed militia, Kushayb was found responsible for orchestrating brutal attacks on civilians — including killings, rape, torture, and forced displacement.
In 2009 and 2010, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir and other senior officials for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. However, those warrants remain unenforced, highlighting ongoing gaps in global justice.
Ongoing Conflict and Impunity
The verdict comes as Sudan faces a renewed humanitarian catastrophe. Since April 2023, fighting between the SAF and RSF has killed thousands and displaced more than 10 million people, reigniting concerns over systematic atrocities.
Amnesty International has called on ICC member states to demonstrate unwavering support for the Court’s work — not only in Sudan but across Africa — where impunity remains entrenched.
The Broader Lesson
The conviction of Ali Kushayb is more than a moment of justice for Darfur’s victims — it’s a global warning to those who abuse power.
For leaders like Museveni, who have ruled for decades amid accusations of violence and repression, the message is unmistakable: power may protect you today, but not forever.
Justice, no matter how delayed, has a long memory.
