"It’s a good start for accountability." ICC convicts Janjaweed Commander Al-Rahmen for atrocities in Darfur and incriminates Minister Haroun

Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (a.k.a Ali Kusheyb), at the Judgement hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague

On Monday, 6 October 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) unanimously convicted Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kusheyb, for 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004. 

Al-Rahmen, referred to by the Sudan Government as "Commander of the Al-Fursan" (the Janjaweed) worked in close coordination with the then Minister of Interior, Ahmed Haroun.

“Ali Kushayb was not a rogue militia leader but a key local commander executing a joint plan designed and supported by government officials such as Ahmad Harun.”

Ali Kushayb did not just issue orders, but “personally participated” in violence. The counts include counts of murder, rape, torture, outrages upon personal dignity, forcible transfer, destruction of property and persecution on ethnic and political grounds for attacks in just four locations in Darfur.

As Commander of the Janjaweed, and in the presence of Minister of the Interior Haroun, Ali Kuysheb ordered those under his command. He was armed with a Kalashnikov and an axe. Not only did he personally arrest people such as Umdah Kindiri in Deleij, but he was also personally involved in beatings and physically present and giving orders for the execution of detainees.

While the judgment could not convict former Minister Haroun (his case is separate and he is at large), he was highly incriminated by the evidence. It recognised a Haroun–Kushayb collaboration as part of a common plan between state actors and militia leaders to attack ethnic groups - primarily Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa.

Minister Haroun travelled to West Darfur with high-ranking Government officials, met with Ali Kusheyb and made announcements in public gatherings. Minister Haroun said,

‘wipe out and sweep away the Fur, do not keep anyone alive’.

He warned a crowd in Mukjar of severe consequences if they did not return property to the State,

‘you will be looted, you will be killed, you will be raped’.

This is a landmark moment for victims, civil society and the international community and the first trial by the ICC for crimes committed in Darfur. In discussing the judgement with members of the affected community they reported,

"People are very happy by this step."

Presiding judge, Joanna Korner, delivering the Judgement

He was indicted by the ICC in 2007 on 31 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between August 2003 and March 2004 in Darfur. After voluntarily surrendering to the ICC on 9 June 2020 in the Central African Republic, Ali Kusheyb was transferred to The Hague, where his trial began in April 2022. The judges heard testimony from 74 witnesses.

He was convicted of 27 of the 31 charges (the others covered the same conduct, and cumulative charging was not allowed). Victims of the following crimes will be eligible for reparation measures, pending the outcome of any appeals:

Crimes against humanity

• Murder of 52 people in Kodoom and Bindisi, and murder of 34 in Deleig.

• Inhumane acts in Bindisi based on race and sex, particularly women and Fur people.

• The forcible transfer/removal of thousands of predominantly Fur people, from Bodoom and Kindisi and into Mukjar.

• Rape of 13 women and girls in Bindisi.

• Deprivation of fundamental rights of Fur descents from Bindisi and Kodoom.

• Arrest of predominantly Fur men, taken to Mukjar police station and tortured.

• Inhumane acts, including racial degradation, at Mukjar police station.

• Murder, ethnic and political persecution of Fur men in Mukjar and Deleig.

• Torture of 100-200 men at the Deleig police station.

• Other inhumane acts committed against 100-200 males at the Deleig police station.

• Attempted murder of 12 Fur males in Deleig.

War crimes

• Murder of 52 in Kodoom and Bindisi, and 34 in Deleig.

• Murder of 49 and attempted murder of two Fur men in Deleig.

• Attacks against civilians in Kodoom, Bindisi and surrounding areas.

• Pillaging of medicine, food, livestock, and other property in Kodoom and Bindisi.

• Destruction of the property of the Fur people.

• Outrages on personal dignity in Bindisi, including humiliation of women and the Fur community.

• Rape of 13 captured women and girls.

• Torture, cruel treatment and outrages on personal dignity of Fur community leaders at Mukjar police station.

• Torture, cruel treatment and outrages on personal dignity of 100-200 men at the Deleig police station.

Rights For Peace disseminated InfoCards (in English and Arabic) to be shared on social media amongst human rights activists and community leaders.

Please also see our Mapping of the Ali Kusheyb Trial.

Significance of this Judgement?

This judgment is the first ICC ruling on atrocities committed in Sudan following the UN Security Council's referral of the Darfur situation to the ICC in 2005. Notable is the incrimination Ahmad Haroun, then Sudan’s Minister of State for the Interior, also indicted by the ICC, but at large.

For victims, especially survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), the conviction represents a critical recognition and a crucial step towards accountability.

"It’s very good today me and all victims are very happy. It’s good start about accountability." 

A notable first is the conviction of persecution not just on political and ethnic grounds, but also on the grounds of gender. The ICC has never made such a conviction before, and it reflects the intersectional nature of persecution and sexual violence in Darfur.

Critiques?

While generally pleased, community members reacting to the Judgement had two areas of critique, not for the Judgement but the crimes charged by the Prosecutor. First they were disappointed from the start that the number of specific attacks particularised in the case were so few and so short: covering just 2 days of attack for four locations in what was an ongoing campaign of violence. This leaves out many victims. In addition, sexual violence was only charged in Bendisi, when this took place in all the locations.

Another disappointment was that genocide was not charged. While persecution on ethnic, political and gender grounds was proven - the community members felt that the evidence could have been enough to convict Ali Kusheyb of genocide.

What comes next?

• Sentencing: We expect the sentence to be delivered in December 2025 or early 2026. (maximum 3 months following the conviction).

• Reparation Phase: We also expect an Order for Reparations Submissions within a similar time frame. At this point, third party organisations who may have information to contribute, may request leave to file an amicus submission in the case.

See related documents below:

Infocards on Ali Kushayb

Mapping Ali Kushayb crimes