ICC sentences Sudanese militia leader to 20 years for Darfur war crimes
December 9, 2025 (THE HAGUE) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday sentenced Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, to 20 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
Kushayb, a senior commander of the Janjaweed militia, was found guilty in October of 27 counts, including murder, rape, and torture committed between August 2003 and April 2004.
In delivering the sentence, Trial Chamber I cited the “extreme gravity” of the crimes but weighed them against unspecified mitigating factors. The court ruled that the time Kushayb has spent in detention since his arrest in June 2020 will be deducted from his term.
The General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugee Camps in Sudan welcomed the verdict as a “historic” step towards accountability, though they noted the sentence fell short of the magnitude of the atrocities.
“Although the punishment does not reflect the magnitude of the crimes committed, it is an important step that proves that impunity is nearing its end,” said Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the Coordination.
Rijal emphasized that the ruling reinforces the “path of truth” but insisted that justice remains incomplete without the prosecution of the conflict’s masterminds.
“We will not stop demanding the handover of all those involved… foremost among them Omar Hassan al-Bashir,” Rijal added, referring to the ousted president who remains wanted by the ICC alongside other former officials.
Kushayb is the first suspect to be tried and convicted by the ICC for atrocities committed during the conflict in Darfur, where the UN estimates 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced.
His path to The Hague began with a surprise voluntary surrender five years ago. Following the ouster of al-Bashir in 2019, Kushayb fled to the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), reportedly fearing for his life. In June 2020, he surrendered to a UN peacekeeping mission in Birao, near the Sudanese border, and was transferred to ICC custody.
The court has also issued an order for reparations to victims and noted that both the defence and prosecution have 30 days to appeal the sentence.