Held in custody by the Sudanese government since November 2007; accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity; arrest warrant issued by the ICC on 2 May 2007; Interpol Red Notice issued on 19 September 2007; released from custody due to lack of evidence on 1 October 2007
Ali Kushayb had been commanding thousands of Militia (Janjaweed) fighters by mid-2003.
According to the Prosecutor's evidence, he issued orders to the Militia and the armed forces to victimise the civilian populations through mass rape and other sexual offences, killings, torture, inhumane acts, pillaging and looting of residences and marketplaces, the displacement of the resident community and other alleged criminal acts.
The Darfur conflict has been going on since 2003. According to UN-sources, at least 200'000 people have been killed and more than 2 million are thought to have been displaced.
The crimes investigated by the Prosecutor took place during attacks on the towns and villages of Kodoom, Bindisi, Mukjar and Arawala in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004.
