The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) Tuesday welcomed the opening of the trial of Ali Kushyab who is indicted with war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Kushyab who is the first of several indictees is accused of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur between August 2003 and at least April 2004.
In a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, The SRF leader Hadi Idriss who is also a member of the Sovereign Council said they are “encouraged by the opening of the case” against the indicted militia leader.
“The SRF welcomes this vital step toward achieving justice for the people of Darfur. The people of Darfur have suffered from decades of conflict, oppression, and marginalization,” Idriss said.
He further called for the full implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement which includes the handover of the detained Sudanese officials including former President al-Bashir to the ICC.
The dissolved civilian-led government approved the handover of the wanted former officials to The Hague court but the military component seemed reluctant to the process.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in 2020 said favourable to the handover. But now, he speaks more about the principle of complementarity which provides to try them at home with appropriate laws and procedures.
After the coup of October 2021, the military-led Sovereign Council reassured an ICC delegation of its commitments to cooperate with the Court to carry out investigations in Darfur.
However, the Sovereign Council members who met the visiting delegation last December did not give a clear response about their request for the handover of the other indictees.
Idriss called for the establishment of key transitional justice institutions such as the Darfur Special Court; the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC); and the Compensation and Reparations Fund, as mechanisms to achieve transitional justice agreed upon in the peace deal.
In addition, “the intense increase in violence across Darfur necessitates the essential comprehensive implementation of security arrangements and security sector reform,” he said.
The SRF leader also called on regional, and international actors to provide the necessary support to ensure successful implementation, civilian protection, and the creation of a conducive environment for just and comprehensive peace in Darfur and Sudan.
Source: Sudan Tribune