Darfur: Justice Opens an Old Wound- From the Balcony – Tahir El-Mutsaim – Khartoum Highlight
How many victims’ families can finally sleep in peace, knowing justice arrived after two long decades? They once believed regime agents were immune to the law. That crimes ordered by rulers were beyond justice. The impunity was easy. That the oppressed in Sudan had no hope for justice under authoritarian regimes that shielded criminals. In a historic moment for international justice, the International Criminal Court convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abdel Rahman — known as Ali Kushayb — of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur between August 2003 and April 2004. The verdict followed lengthy hearings. Judges reviewed shocking testimonies and evidence of atrocities in Mukjar, Deleig, Kodoom, and Bindisi. These villages witnessed mass killings, torture, rape, and forced displacement.
The court found Kushayb guilty of murder and torture as both war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was also convicted of outrages upon personal dignity and persecution as crimes against humanity. Judges stated that Kushayb was a key partner of the Janjaweed militia and Sudanese government forces in attacks targeting unarmed civilians. He issued direct orders for killings, torture, looting, and the destruction of entire villages, alongside the forced displacement of residents.
The court documented the killing of at least 200 prisoners and detainees in Mukjar and Deleig. Some were executed in the field; others were brutally tortured in detention. These acts, the court ruled, constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. Although the final sentencing has not yet been announced, the conviction itself marks a historic milestone — the first verdict related to Darfur since the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2009 for senior Sudanese officials, including ousted President Omar al-Bashir
Impunity not an option
Abdel Rahim Muhammad Hussein, and Ahmed Haroun, among a list of 51 accused. Experts in international law say this verdict sends a powerful message: impunity is no longer an option. Crimes against civilians in armed conflicts will be prosecuted — no matter how much time passes or regimes change.
Kushayb’s conviction also reignites debate about whether the ICC can deliver comprehensive and fair justice in complex cases like Darfur, where several accused leaders remain at large. Human rights advocates argue that true justice for Darfur’s victims goes beyond convicting individuals. It requires addressing the root causes of conflict, compensating victims, and ensuring such atrocities never happen again. Observers note that Kushayb’s cooperation with the court since his surrender in 2020 allowed investigators rare access to firsthand evidence and crucial testimonies. This could strengthen judicial credibility and establish new precedents in prosecuting mass crimes.
Justice for victims
For Darfur’s people, the verdict is not the end of tragedy but the beginning of long-overdue recognition of their suffering since 2003. Many villages that endured genocide and displacement still lie in ruins. Survivors continue waiting for full justice and reparation. The case of Ali Kushayb is a stark reminder that justice may be delayed but never dies. Crimes against humanity do not fade with time.
As ICC judges prepare the final sentence, the world turns its eyes to The Hague — where a new chapter in global justice is being written. A chapter affirming that justice is not a legal luxury, but a human necessity to preserve the moral conscience of humanity. Yet, it is tragic that Darfur and other parts of Sudan receive this verdict while their wounds remain open. Armed conflict, atrocities, and massacres — in Geneina, Wad Al-Noura, and Halfaya — continue. The nation still fails to end the war that feeds new injustice every day.
