Following the surrender of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman “Ali Kushayb” to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 9 June 2020 after 13 years of evading justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena said:
The Sudanese authorities should build on this momentum by handing over former President Omar al-Bashir and the two other suspects, Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, to also answer allegations against them at the ICC
Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's Director for East and Southern Africa
“The arrest of Ali Kushayb is a positive step towards justice for the victims of the crimes he allegedly committed in Darfur. The Sudanese authorities should build on this momentum by handing over former President Omar al-Bashir and the two other suspects, Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, to also answer allegations against them at the ICC.
“Only when those who have grossly abused power in the past are held to account for their crimes will a future in which human rights in the country be fully realized. We stand in solidarity with the people of Darfur in demanding truth, justice and reparations no matter how long it takes or how hard those responsible try to evade the law.”
Background
Ali Kushayb allegedly recruited and commanded thousands of Janjaweed militias between August 2003 and March 2004, who committed heinous human rights violations. On 27 April 2007 the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for him to face 22 counts of crimes against humanity and 28 counts of war crimes.
The ICC also issued arrest warrants for Ahmad Harun in 2007, against Omar al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010, and against Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein in 2012 for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur committed since 2003.