Darfur rebel leader accused of war crimes appears before ICC

A rebel leader accused of having directed the deadly September 2007 attack against peacekeepers in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur voluntarily appeared today before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Bahr Idriss Abu Garda is charged with three war crimes allegedly committed when 1,000 rebels attacked the Haskanita camp in South Darfur state on 29 September 2007. Twelve peacekeepers serving with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) – a predecessor to the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID – were killed and eight others wounded in the attack.

Mr. Abu Garda, who commands a splinter group of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), is the first person to appear before the ICC voluntarily in response to a summons and also the first to appear in relation to the investigation into the situation in Darfur, which was referred to The Hague-based Court by the Security Council in 2005.

At his initial appearance today, he was informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed and of his rights, according to a news release issued by the Court. After today’s hearing, he is free to leave the country, but will be required to return to attend a confirmation of charges hearing, after which it will be determined whether or not there are substantial grounds to believe that he carried out the crimes he is charged with committing.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he “commends the Court’s efforts to ensure accountability for crimes against peacekeepers and emphasizes that the United Nations respects the independence of the Court and its judicial process.”

The names of the other two rebel commanders alleged to have led the Haskanita attack remain undisclosed.

An estimated 300,000 people have died and another 3 million have been displaced in Darfur, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.

In March, an arrest warrant was issued for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, the first sitting Head of State to be indicted by the Court, for alleged war crimes committed in Darfur.

ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo yesterday welcomed Mr. Abu Garda’s decision to appear before the Court, noting that “voluntary appearance is always an option under the Statute including for President Al-Bashir should he elect to cooperate.”