By Susan Kendi.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has heard 18 prosecution witnesses in the Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman case.
The 18th prosecution witness, P-0547, testimony touched on the alleged use by the Government of Sudan of the Militia/Janjaweed and Al-Rahman’s alleged role in the Janjaweed [militia].
The previous witness, P-718, in a testimony that lasted for two days, spoke on an alleged attack on his village by the Janjaweed in November 2003; the alleged arrest and detention of civilians in Deleig in March 2004; Abd-Al-Rahman’s allegedly questioning of detainees and issuing orders on who to detain and release; the accused’s allegedly carrying a stick that was a status symbol signifying he was senior military personnel; Mr. Abd-Al-Rahman’s physical description.
On Monday, June 13, the 16th prosecution witness, P-0892, took the stand to testify in the trial. The witness testified about the link between Abd-Al-Rahman and his nickname Ali Kushayb; the alleged attack on his village by GoS Forces and the Janjaweed in February 2004; his alleged displacement with other villagers to Mukjar; how displaced persons were allegedly beaten and their belongings looted under the orders of Abd-Al-Rahman; GoS Forces and the Janjaweed allegedly arresting displaced persons in Mukjar; the detention conditions at Mukjar police station, alleged torture, and execution of detainees and the discovery of a mass grave outside of Mukjar around March and April 2004.
A crimes-based witness, P-0012, testifying with protective measures, face pixilation, and voice distortion, was the 15th prosecution witness in the Abd-Al-Rahman case. He unveiled the structure of the Janjaweed[militia] and Abd-Al-Rahman’s alleged role; the alleged distribution of money, weapons, and other equipment by the Government of Sudan[GoS] to the militia; a number of meetings, events, and reported attacks that involved the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed.
The 14th prosecution witness, P-0850, testified about an incident in Deleig in March 2004 that included alleged arrests of males, mistreatment of detainees and execution; an alleged arrest of his relatives by GoS Forces and Janjaweed; the alleged use of derogatory language by the GoS Forces and Janjaweed’s when referring to members of the Fur tribe; visiting a survivor of executions in Deleig in March 2004; Abd-Al-Rahman’s identity and physical description and an alleged attack on his village in December 2003 by GoS Forces and Janjaweed.
The 13th Prosecution Witness, P-0980, spoke about the alleged attacks by GoS Forces and the Janjaweed in Arawala in December 2003 and on his village between September and December 2003 that led to his subsequent fleeing to Deleig; GoS Forces and the Janjaweed allegedly taking him and other male family members to the Deleig police station; GoS Forces and the Janjaweed including Abd-Al-Rahman who allegedly beat men in front of the Deleig police station and seeing Umdahs (chiefs) being brought to the Deleig police station and loaded into vehicles.
On Monday 6, the 12th Prosecution Witness, P-720, testified on the administrative structure and tribal administration of the Mukjar; the rebel attacks in Mukjar in 2003; GoS Forces and the Janjaweed allegedly establishing checkpoints around Mukjar; alleged arrests of Umdahs and their executions; GoS Forces and the Janjaweed allegedly under Abd-Al-Rahman’s command taking the road to Garsila and hearing gunfire half an hour later.
The other 11 prosecution witnesses who have testified in the case include the first witness, a joint prosecution, and defence expert witness, Alex De Waal (P-1042); P-029; P-903; P-651; P-736; P-712;P-120; P-119; P-922; P-990 and P-020.
The Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman trial opened on April 5 before the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands. He is suspected of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004 in Darfur, Sudan.
Ali Abd-Al-Rahman is alleged to have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur, Sudan. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from May 24 to May 26, 2021, and the charges were confirmed in July. The trial opening happened on April 5, 2022.
