Situation in Darfur
The seal of the International Criminal Court
The seal of the International Criminal Court
File no.02/05
Referred byUN Security Council
Date referred31 March 2005
Date opened6 June 2005 (2005-06-06)
Incident(s)War in Darfur
(Raids on Haskanita)
CrimesGenocide:
· Causing serious bodily or mental harm
· Deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy
· Killing members of the group
Crimes against humanity:
· Extermination
· Forcible transfer
· Inhumane acts
· Imprisonment
· Murder
· Persecution
· Rape
· Torture
War crimes:
· Attacks against civilians
· Destruction of property
· Murder
· Outrage upon dignity
· Pillaging
· Rape
Status of suspects
Ahmed HarounFugitive
Ali KushaybIn custody; trial ongoing
Omar al-BashirFugitive
Bahar Abu GardaCharges not confirmed
Abdallah BandaCase in pre-trial stage
Saleh JerboCase dropped due to death[1]
Abdel Rahim Mohammed HusseinFugitive

The International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur or the situation in Darfur is an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into criminal acts committed during the War in Darfur. Although Sudan is not a state party to the Rome Statute, the treaty which created the ICC, the situation in Darfur was referred to the ICC's Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council in 2005.[2] As of June 2019, five suspects remained under indictment by the court: Ahmed Haroun, Ali Kushayb, Omar al-Bashir, Abdallah Banda and Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein.[3][4] Charges against Bahar Abu Garda were dropped on the basis of insufficient evidence in 2010[5] and those against Saleh Jerbo were dropped following his death in 2013.[1] In mid-April 2019, Haroun, al-Bashir and Hussein were imprisoned in Sudan as a result of the 2019 Sudanese coup d'état.[6][7] In early November 2019, the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok stated that al-Bashir would be transferred to the ICC.[8][9] One of the demands of the displaced people of Darfur visited by Hamdok prior to Hamdok's statement was that "Omar Al Bashir and the other wanted persons" had to be surrendered to the ICC.[10]

Background

The Darfur conflict was a guerrilla conflict that took place in the Darfur region of Sudan from 2003 until 2009–2010. The conflict began when the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement began attacking the Sudanese government in response to perceived oppression of black Sudanese by the majority Arab government.[11] During the conflict government forces and Janjaweed militia have attacked black Sudanese in the Darfur region. These actions have been described as genocide by a number of governments and human rights groups. Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's president at the time, denied that his government had links to Janjaweed.[11]

Referral

The International Criminal Court only has jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes which have taken place in states or by the nationals of states that are party to the Rome Statute or that have accepted the Court's jurisdiction. Additionally, a situation can be referred to the ICC's Chief Prosecutor by the UN Security Council. In the case of Darfur, the Security Council referred the situation on 31 March 2005 after the passage of Resolution 1593.[12] The resolution was passed by a vote of 11 in favor and zero against, with four abstentions. Argentina, Benin, Denmark, France, Greece, Japan, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom voted in favor and Algeria, Brazil, China, and the United States abstained.[12]

The Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, formally opened an investigation on 6 June 2005.[2]

Charges

As of June 2019, five people remained under ICC indictment for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Among these, Haroun, al-Bashir, and Hussein were held in detention by Sudanese authorities, with an international legal obligation of either being transferred to the ICC or of being prosecuted for the same charges in Sudan under appropriate legal procedures.[3][7]

Closed cases

Charges against Bahr Idriss Abu Garda were dropped in late 2009 and the Prosecutor's appeal against this was rejected on 23 April 2010.[5] Evidence for Saleh Jerbo having died on 19 April 2013 was accepted by the court and the case against him was closed without prejudice.[1]

Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb

Ahmed Haroun was formerly Minister of State for the Interior in the Government of Sudan and later the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs. He is alleged to have commanded the "Darfur security desk" which coordinated the counterinsurgency in Darfur and provided arms to the Janjaweed. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, or Ali Kushayb, was allegedly the leader of the Janjaweed. Haroun and Kushayb were charged with the total of 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Fur people.[13][14]

The first nine counts concern attacks in and around the Kodoom villages from or around 15 August 2003 to or around 31 August 2003. Counts 10 to 20 concern attacks in and around the town of Bindisi from or around 15 August 2003 to or around 31 August 2003. Counts 21 to 37 concern attacks in and around the town of Mukjar in or around August 2003, September 2003, October 2003, December 2003, and March 2004. Counts 38 to 51 concern attacks in and around the town of Arawala in or around December 2003.[13][14] Haroun is charged with 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 counts of war crimes while Kushayb is charged with 22 counts of crimes against humanity and 28 counts of war crimes.[13][14] War crimes are listed below WC and crimes against humanity as CAH. The statute column contains the reference to the crime in the articles of the Rome Statute.

Count CAH WC Crime Statute Haroun Kushayb
1 Green tick Red X Persecution Article 7(1)(h) Green tick Green tick
2 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
3 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
4 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
5 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
6 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Green tick Green tick
7 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Red X Green tick
8 Red X Green tick Destruction of property Article 8(2)(e)(xii) Green tick Green tick
9 Green tick Red X Forcible transfer of a population Article 7(1)(d) Green tick Green tick
10 Green tick Red X Persecution Article 7(1)(h) Green tick Green tick
11 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
12 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
13 Green tick Red X Rape Article 7(1)(g) Green tick Green tick
14 Red X Green tick Rape Article 8(2)(e)(vi) Green tick Green tick
15 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Green tick Green tick
16 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Red X Green tick
17 Green tick Red X Inhumane acts Article 7(1)(k) Green tick Green tick
18 Red X Green tick Pillaging Article 8(2)(e)(v) Green tick Green tick
19 Red X Green tick Destruction of property Article 8(2)(e)(xii) Green tick Green tick
20 Green tick Red X Forcible transfer of a population Article 7(1)(d) Green tick Green tick
21 Green tick Red X Persecution Article 7(1)(h) Green tick Green tick
22 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
23 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
24 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
25 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Red X Green tick
26 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
27 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Red X Green tick
28 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
29 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Red X Green tick
30 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
31 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Red X Green tick
32 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Green tick Green tick
33 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Red X Green tick
34 Green tick Red X Imprisonment or severe deprivation of liberty Article 7(1)(e) Green tick Green tick
35 Green tick Red X Torture Article 7(1)(f) Green tick Green tick
36 Red X Green tick Pillaging Article 8(2)(e)(v) Green tick Green tick
37 Red X Green tick Destruction of property Article 8(2)(e)(xii) Green tick Red X
38 Green tick Red X Persecution Article 7(1)(h) Green tick Green tick
39 Green tick Red X Murder Article 7(1)(a) Green tick Green tick
40 Red X Green tick Murder Article 8(2)(c)(i) Green tick Green tick
41 Green tick Red X Rape Article 7(1)(g) Green tick Green tick
42 Red X Green tick Rape Article 8(2)(e)(vi) Green tick Green tick
43 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Green tick Green tick
44 Red X Green tick Attack against a civilian population Article 8(2)(e)(i) Green tick Green tick
45 Red X Green tick Outrage upon personal dignity Article 8(2)(c)(ii) Red X Green tick
46 Red X Green tick Outrage upon personal dignity Article 8(2)(c)(ii) Green tick Green tick
47 Red X Green tick Outrage upon personal dignity Article 8(2)(c)(ii) Red X Green tick
48 Green tick Red X Inhumane acts Article 7(1)(k) Green tick Green tick
49 Red X Green tick Pillaging Article 8(2)(e)(v) Green tick Green tick
50 Red X Green tick Destruction of property Article 8(2)(e)(xii) Green tick Green tick
51 Green tick Red X Forcible transfer of a population Article 7(1)(d) Green tick Green tick

As of June 2019, Haroun was held in detention by Sudanese authorities.[3][7] Kushayb was located in Rahad el-Berdi in South Darfur in December 2017, where he was accused by Salamat tribe leaders of an attempted murder.[15] On June 9, 2020, Kushayb was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.[16] His trial began on April 5, 2022. [17]

Omar al-Bashir

Omar al-Bashir was President of Sudan from June 1989 to April 2019. He was indicted on 4 March 2009 with five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes:[18]

  1. Attack against a civilian population, constituting a war crime in violation of article 8(2)(e)(i) of the Rome Statute;
  2. Pillaging, constituting a war crime in violation of article 8(2)(e)(v) of the Rome Statute;
  3. Murder, constituting a crime against humanity in violation of article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute;
  4. Extermination, constituting a crime against humanity in violation of article 7(1)(b) of the Rome Statute;
  5. Forcible transfer of a population, constituting a crime against humanity in violation of article 7(1)(d) of the Rome Statute;
  6. Torture, constituting a crime against humanity in violation of article 7(1)(f) of the Rome Statute;
  7. Rape, constituting a crime against humanity in violation of article 7(1)(g) of the Rome Statute.

On 12 July 2010 he was additionally charged with three counts of genocide:[19]

  1. Killing, constituting a crime of genocide in violation of article 6(a) of the Rome Statute;
  2. Causing serious bodily of mental harm, constituting a crime of genocide in violation of article 6(b) of the Rome Statute;
  3. Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destitution, constituting a crime of genocide in violation of article 6(c) of the Rome Statute.

As of June 2019, al-Bashir was held in detention by Sudanese authorities.[3][7] In August 2020, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok stated that the government was willing to cooperate with the ICC in the trial of al-Bashir.[20] As of May 2022, al-Bashir was still at large, and not within ICC custody.[21]

Abdallah Banda

As of June 2019, Abdallah Banda, Commander-in-Chief of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), remained a fugitive, indicted by the ICC.[3]

Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein

Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein, former Governor of Khartoum State, indicted by the ICC, was imprisoned in Sudan in late April 2019 following the 2019 Sudanese coup d'état.[6][3][7]

Sudanese court

On 21 January 2020, in the Darfur track of the 2019–2020 component of Sudanese peace process negotiations, the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) and Sovereignty Council representatives agreed on the creation in the Sudanese legal system of a Darfur war crimes court to be created in the Sudanese legal system for trying Darfur war crimes and crimes against humanity suspects. The SRF and the Sovereignty Council agreed to create a commission that would establish the court.[22][23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Situation in Darfur, Sudan in the case of The Prosecutor v. Abdallah Band Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2013-10-04. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  2. 1 2 "The Prosecutor of the ICC opens investigation in Darfur". International Criminal Court. 2005-06-29. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bensouda, Fatou (2019-06-19). "Statement to the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to UNSCR 1593 (2005)". International Criminal Court. Archived from the original on 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  4. ↑ "Situation in Darfur, Sudan". International Criminal Court. Archived from the original on 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  5. 1 2 "The Prosecutor v. Bahar Idriss Abu Garda". International Criminal Court. 2010-04-23. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Members of ousted Sudanese president's party arrested". Daily Sabah. 2019-04-21. Archived from the original on 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Elbagir, Nima (15 April 2019). "As Bashir faces court, Sudan's protesters keep the music alive". CNN. Archived from the original on 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  8. ↑ "Sudan's Forces for Freedom and Change: 'Hand Al Bashir to ICC'". Radio Dabanga. 2019-11-05. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  9. ↑ "Sudan's PM says al-Bashir to be handed over to the ICC". Sudan Tribune. 2019-11-05. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  10. ↑ "PM Hamdok hears five key demands from Darfur displaced". Radio Dabanga. 2019-11-07. Archived from the original on 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  11. 1 2 "Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict". BBC News. 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  12. 1 2 "Security Council Refers Situation in Darfur, Sudan, to Prosecutor of International Criminal Court". United Nations. 2005-03-31. Archived from the original on 2005-07-31. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  13. 1 2 3 "Warrant of Arrest for Ahmad Harun" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  14. 1 2 3 "Warrant of Arrest for Ali Kushayb" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  15. ↑ "Salamat: 'Ali Kushayb tried to murder South Darfur cattle merchant'". Radio Dabanga. 2017-12-18. Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  16. ↑ "Situation in Darfur (Sudan): Ali Kushayb is in ICC custody". www.icc-cpi.int.
  17. ↑ "Abd-Al-Rahman trial opens at International Criminal Court". International Criminal Court official website. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Situation in Darfur, Sudan – In the case of Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad al Bashir ("Omar al Bashir")" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2009-03-04. ICC-02/05-01/09. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  19. ↑ "ICC-02/05-01/09-95: Second Warrant of Arrest for Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2010-07-12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  20. ↑ "Hamdok: Sudán está dispuesto a cooperar con la CPI para la entrega de Bashir". www.msn.com (in Spanish). EFE. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Al Bashir Case". ICC Official Website. ICC. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Sudan, armed groups agree to establish special court for Darfur crimes". Sudan Tribune. 2020-01-21. Archived from the original on 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  23. ↑ "Breakthrough on Darfur in Sudan peace negotiations". Radio Dabanga. 2020-01-21. Archived from the original on 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
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