War trauma in Timbuktu: 10 years in prison for war criminals Al Hassan

War trauma in Timbuktu: 10 years in prison for war criminals Al Hassan

A dark chapter in Mali's history is now closed with a clear verdict! The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz, a leading member of the Malian militia Ansar al-Din, to 10 years in prison. This verdict refers to the horrific war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the group's brutal rule over Timbuktu between 2012 and 2013.

In June, Al Hassan was convicted for his role as police chief, where he was responsible for torture, rape and sexual slavery. Under his watch, religious and historical sites were destroyed while the population lived in a climate of fear and oppression. Judge Kimberly Prost emphasized that Al Hassan's actions had a "traumatic effect on the people of Timbuktu" and the memories of those terrible times are deeply embedded in the victims' minds.

Horrible crimes in the name of the regime

The judge found that the punishment was "appropriate for the severity of the crimes and the individual circumstances". Al Hassan, who appeared on trial in traditional West African robes, showed no emotion after the verdict, but listened carefully. The horrific crimes that were charged to him include cruel treatment, such as flirting a victim and mutilation of a man. During the reign of Ansar al-Din, women were arrested and raped in custody, while public exposures and even amputations took place in front of the assembled audience.

Although Al Hassan was acquitted of the charges for rape and sexual slavery in June, the dark record of his actions remains. With this judgment, the ICC has set a strong sign against the atrocities that were committed in Mali during this dark time, and the international community clearly condemned the seriousness of these crimes.