TIMELINE: ICC investigating war crimes in Darfur
December 4, 2007 (NEW YROK) — The prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo will brief the UN Security Council (UNSC) tomorrow on the progress of his Darfur investigations. Ocampo is expected to notify the council that Sudan is not cooperating per resolution 1593 referring the situation in Darfur to the ICC.
January 2005 — The International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur recommends the referral of situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The commission identifies 51 individuals as potential suspects but seals their names in an envelope.
March 2005 — The UNSC adopts resolution 1593 referring the situation in Darfur since 1 July 2002 to the ICC. The first resolution of its kind from the UNSC was adopted by a vote of 11 in favor, none against with 4 abstentions (Algeria, Brazil, China and United States).
April 2005 — The ICC prosecutor formally receives a sealed envelope containing the conclusion of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur along with the names. The envelope is unsealed in the presence of 4 senior ICC officials then resealed.
June 2005 — The ICC prosecutor announces his decision to open an investigation into the situation in Darfur.
December 2005 — The ICC prosecutor selects a number of alleged criminal incidents in Darfur for full investigation.
June 2006 — The ICC prosecutor tells the UNSC that he will carry out his investigations from outside Darfur because of his office’s inability to protect the witnesses.
December 2006 — The ICC prosecutor announces that he has nearly completed an investigation into some of the worst crimes committed in Darfur.
February 2007 — The ICC prosecutor requests the issuance of summons to appear from the Judges against Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of
Sudan, and Mr Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman also known as Ali Kushayb, alleged leader of the Militia/Janjaweed. The Sudanese government dismisses the jurisdiction of the court.
April 2007 — The ICC prosecutor sends a letter to the Sudanese government requesting clarification on its position regarding the voluntary extradition of the Darfur suspects to court. Khartoum ignores the letter.
May 2007 — The judges of the ICC request an arrest warrant against Harun and Kushayb instead of a summons to appear as requested by the prosecutor.
June 2007 — The ICC transmits a formal request to the Sudanese government for the extradition of the two Darfur war crimes suspects. Similar requests were sent simultaneously to the member countries of the UN Security Council, State parties of the ICC in addition to Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
June 2007 — The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issues red notice for the arrest of Harun.
September 2007 — The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issues red notice for the arrest of Kushayb.
October 2007 — Sudan’s foreign minister announces that his government released Kushayb, who was in custody since November 2006, for lack of incriminating evidence.
December 2007 — The ICC prosecutor says that he plans to open two new cases in Sudan over attacks on humanitarian workers and peacekeepers in Darfur.
(ST)