The International Criminal Court has convicted a former Sudanese militia leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in mass executions, rapes and torture in the Darfur region. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was a commander in the Janjaweed militia when the Darfur conflict erupted more than 20 years ago. Then-President Omar al-Bashir’s government responded to the rebel uprising with a scorched-earth campaign of aerial bombings and gruesome raids across villages carried out by Janjaweed troops. Over the years, it is estimated up to 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and over 2 million displaced. Al-Bashir has been charged by the ICC with crimes including genocide and remains in a military-run prison in Sudan. ICC Presiding Judge Joanna Korner explained Monday’s verdict.

Judge Joanna Korner: “The chamber is convinced that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes with which he has been charged. Its verdicts are unanimous.”