On October 6, 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered [3] its first trial judgement in the Darfur situation, convicting Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These crimes were committed between August 2003 and March 2004 during widespread attacks in West Darfur.

Kushayb, identified as a leader of the Janjaweed militia, was initially charged with 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was alleged to have commanded forces, distributed weapons, and directly participated in large-scale attacks. A total of 74 witnesses gave testimony during the proceedings. The Trial Chamber found that Kushayb, as a militia leader, exercised authority, directed operations, and played a central role in the systematic targeting of civilians. It unanimously convicted him of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape, persecution, forcible population transfers, pillaging, and other inhumane acts.

The conviction comes nearly two decades after the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC in March 2005. It stands as a landmark ICC judgment, representing the first full trial judgment for Darfur, directly addressing the accountability of Janjaweed leadership for atrocities committed in 2003–2004.