Photo by Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

On December 9, 2025, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a sentencing judgment in Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”). The sentencing judgment followed Abd-Al-Rahman’s conviction on October 6, 2025, on 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and April 2004.

The Chamber imposed a sentence of 20 years of imprisonment. Pursuant to Article 78(2) of the Rome Statute, the period of Abd-Al-Rahman’s detention since June 9, 2020, was ordered to be deducted from the total sentence. In determining the sentence, the Chamber considered factors including the gravity of the crimes, the personal circumstances of the convicted person, and his degree of participation and intent. It further assessed aggravating and mitigating factors, including the harm suffered by victims, the abuse of authority, and the multiplicity and vulnerability of victims.

The Prosecution sought a joint sentence of life imprisonment, while the Defense requested a finite and proportionate term of imprisonment or a fine. The Defense submitted numerous mitigating factors, including Abd-Al-Rahman’s age and health, family circumstances, lack of prior convictions, conduct in detention, voluntary surrender, and alleged peace-promoting activities. While the Chamber acknowledged Abd-Al-Rahman’s advanced age—76 years—and his good conduct in detention, it accorded these factors limited weight and found that they did not substantially diminish Ali Kushayb’s culpability.