The first day of the confirmation of the accusations of Sudanese Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, took place in The Hague on Monday 24 post. He is suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. During this first hearing, it was mainly up to the prosecutor to try to convince the court to go to trial.
Ali Kushayb, a Janjaweed warlord who worked for the Sudanese government, was transferred to the ICC on June 9, 2020, after has voluntarily traveled to the Central African Republic. Abd-Al-Rahman is suspected of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which are alleged to have been committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004 in Darfur (Sudan). he appeared on Monday, May 24
The defense began with quick observations regarding the regularity of the preliminary procedure. Then the prosecution took the floor. She began her presentation in the background and began with the context of the time, the situation of the various parties in the conflict and Ali Kushayb’s role in this context.
“Respected and afraid”
The indictment was led by Fatou Bensouda – who recalled that it was undoubtedly his last court worked as a prosecutor for the ICC- to present his elements against Ali Kushayb, to show that at that time he was a leading leader of janjaweed, “respected and feared”. The demonstration was made by the important link between him and the members of the government, his role as an intermediary, the link he had between the authorities and the Janjaweed groups on the ground.
Above all, the presentations sought to prove the warlord’s involvement, his decision – making power, and his involvement in various attacks in Darfur that claimed hundreds of civilian lives. The indictment presented the charges against Ali Kushayb, by locality and by type of crime. Many cases were detailed with supporting documents and testimonies. The systematic nature and choice of victims governed by gender, ethnicity and political affiliation.
The evidence shows that Abd-Al-Rahman was a deliberate, willful and enterprising perpetrator of these crimes, prosecutor Bensouda said. He played a crucial role in carrying out attacks, committing murders and ordering other murders. “A small ax in his right hand”
The purpose of the indictment: to convince the elements that the elements are sufficient to guide the proceedings until the trial.
In today’s case, we are seeking justice for the victims of rape, murder, torture and other crimes committed in Darfur, the prosecutor continues. The evidence we provide shows facts, crimes and finally guilt in this case.
Testimony was also highlighted, such as this story of a witness to the abuse suffered by community leader Umdah Yaya in Mukjar. It is read by Pubudu Sachithanandan, prosecutor.
Umdah Yaya was brought to his knees in front of Kushayb. Kushayb had a small ax in his right hand. He pointed to Yaya. And he said something like, “This is one of the great rebels.” Then Kushayb hit the top of the head with an ax. He had to wiggle the ax a little to free it from Yaya’s head. Umdah Yaya fell to the ground but was not dead.
All the while, Abd Al Rahman was listening, gray hair, glasses and a small mustache. He remained silent all day during the long hours of freezing, mostly with his arms crossed over his chest, sometimes nodding in his chair. As the prosecutor continued to present the evidence, Ali Kushayb lightly untied gray hair, glasses and a small mustache on his striped tie in purple.
The hearings will resume this Tuesday morning, with the end of the prosecution’s presentations, will follow the representatives of the victims.
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