Darfur: NPWJ welcomes the transfer of Ali Kushayb to ICC’s custody as an important step towards accountability

No Peace Without Justice welcomes the transfer of former Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb to the custody of the International criminal Court (ICC), as an important step towards justice and accountability in Darfur. Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman ("Ali Kushayb")  surrenderied himself voluntarily in the Central African Republic on account of an ICC arrest warrant issued on 27 April 2007 for crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in the Darfur region between 2003 and 2004.
 
We also look forward to see all others indicted by the ICC for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur, including first and foremost former President Bashir, to be handed over and transferred to The Hague. We therefore urge the transitional authorities in Sudan to fulfil without delay by concrete actions their readiness to live up to their international obligations and to cooperate with the ICC.

The transfer of former President Bashir and all other fugitives in Sudan would send a strong signal to the victims of the crimes in Darfur that their suffering is finally being addressed and to other would-be perpetrators that their official position, even as head of State, will not protect them forever.
 
We also call upon the International Criminal Court to play its part in ensuring the trials will have a positive impact in Sudan as part of its transitional justice process, including through revamping their outreach in the country and ensuring that victims can participate meaningfully in what we hope will be trials in The Hague (or indeed in Khartoum) in the not too distant future.

 
For further information, contact Alison Smith, Director Of International Justice, on asmith@npwj.org or Nicola Giovannini, Press & Public Affairs Coordinator, on ngiovannini@npwj.org org.