On 2 May 2007, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants of arrest for Ahmad Muhammad Harun (Ahmad Harun), the former Sudanese Minister of State for the Interior and current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman (Ali Kushayb), a leader of the Militia/Janjaweed.

According to the findings of the Pre-Trial Chamber, an armed conflict took place in Darfur, Sudan between several different parties. Specifically, the conflict involved the Government of Sudan, along with combatants from the Sudan People’s Armed Forces, the Popular Defence Force (PDF) and the Militia/Janjaweed, against organised rebel groups, including the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) It is alleged that the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Militia/Janjaweed, as part of a counter-insurgency campaign, carried out several attacks on the towns of Kodoom, Bindisi, Mukjar, Arawala and surrounding areas in 2003 and 2004.

Ahmad Harun served from 2003 to 2005 as Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of Sudan and he was in charge of the management of the “Darfur Security Desk”, thereby co-ordinating the different bodies of the Government involved in the counter-insurgency. He is charged on the basis of individual criminal responsibility with 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 counts of war crimes. Ali Kushayb was one of the most senior leaders in the Militai/Janjaweed and member of the PDF. He was perceived as the “mediator” between the leaders of the Militia/Janjaweed and the Government of Sudan. He is charged on the basis of individual criminal responsibility with 22 counts of crimes against humanity and 28 counts of war crimes.

The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that neither Ahmad Harun nor Ali Kushayb will voluntarily present themselves before the ICC. Therefore, the Pre-Trial Chamber decided to issue the warrants of arrest. The Registrar was ordered to prepare two requests for co-operation seeking the arrest and surrender of both accused, containing the relevant information. These will be transmitted to the competent Sudanese authorities.

ICC Press release