Khartoum: Rhino – The Sudanese Emergency Lawyers Group said that today’s ruling by the Criminal Court convicting Ali Kosheib of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed two decades ago against the people of Darfur represents dignity for the victims and their families who have waited for justice for nearly two decades. The group described today as a historic day for justice in Sudan, which proved the involvement of the leaders of the Bashir regime in the crimes in Darfur.
The lawyers considered the verdict against Kosheib a major step towards building peace, freedom, and justice in Sudan, and affirmed in a statement today that with this decision, the court opens the door of hope for the victims of crimes and violations in Darfur and throughout the country, and confirms that justice does not die with the statute of limitations and that crimes against humanity will not go unpunished.
The International Criminal Court today issued its verdict in the case of the Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, known as Ali Kosheib, convicting him of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. including mass murder, rape, torture, persecution, and forcible displacement of the civilian population.
In its ruling, the court confirmed the involvement of Ahmed Haroun and Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein, two of the most prominent leaders of the former regime, in planning, financing, and directing these crimes, as they provided Kosheib with weapons and money and gave him direct orders to lead attacks against civilians. This ruling is the first conviction issued by the court for crimes committed in Darfur since the Sudanese case was referred to the court under Security Council Resolution 1593.
The group emphasized that protecting, harboring, or assisting those wanted by the International Criminal Court is a crime in itself, and that the authorities in Sudan and all member states of the court’s statute must cooperate fully and hand over all those wanted without delay.
The statement reads: ” The Emergency Lawyers Group considers this day a national turning point in the course of Sudanese justice and proof that the law can prevail no matter how long the wait. It calls on the international community to support this historic path and to stand with the victims of war in their quest for justice, accountability, and genuine reconciliation.
This ruling is not the end of the road, but rather the beginning, a step that restores dignity and pave the way toward a just peace and freedom worthy of the sacrifices of the Sudanese people.
