In a statement, the ICC Prosecutor’s Office said it would review the written judgment to determine whether additional legal steps are necessary. The Office recalled that it had previously sought a life sentence because of the extreme gravity of the crimes, which included murder, rape, torture, persecution, and other acts of severe violence, committed either directly, as an accomplice, or as an instigator.
The Office highlighted the scale and brutality of the crimes: 253 victims in total, including 213 Darfuris who were killed, among them children, and 16 women and girls who were raped, as well as the wide geographic spread of the violence and the extended period over which it occurred.
The Prosecutor’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to accountability in Darfur and said investigations remain active. Current efforts focus in particular on recent events in El Geneina and El Fasher, with the aim of ensuring that all responsible individuals are held to account.
On October 6, the Court’s Pre Trial Chamber unanimously convicted Kushayb on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to his role as a senior commander in the pro government Janjaweed militia during operations in Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004.