Mali | May 29, 2024
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As reported by Al-Jazeera on 26 June 2024, Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed has been convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during his reign of terror in Timbuktu from 2012 to 2013. He faces up to life imprisonment when a sentence is handed down at a later date. Al Hassan was a key member of Ansar al-Din, an al-Qaeda-linked group that held power in northern Mali in 2012.
World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “Ansar al-Din (also known as Ansar Dine) was formed in late 2011 by Islamic extremist Iyad Ag Ghali. The group aimed to implement Sharia law across Mali and expel foreign influence from the country. They targeted religious minorities, forcing them to convert to Islam and adopt Sunni customs. In 2017, together with other al-Qaeda linked groups in Mali, they formed the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Women and girls suffered particularly under Ansar al-Din’s repressive regime, facing corporal punishment, imprisonment, forced marriage and sexual slavery.”
Yonas Dembele continues: “This is the second case decision by the ICC in relation to the conflict in Mali after the conviction in 2016 of Ahmad Al Faqi Al-Mahdi for intentionally directing attacks against religious buildings and historical monuments in Timbuktu in 2012. The conviction of Al Hassan is seen as a significant step towards justice and accountability and appears to be part of broader efforts to hold jihadist leaders accountable for atrocities committed during periods of instability in Mali and the wider Sahel region. Despite this, the broader security situation in the Sahel remains precarious. Jihadist groups continue to exploit political instability, weak governance and local grievances to expand their influence. The conviction of Al Hassan alone is unlikely to significantly alter these dynamics. While it sends a strong message against impunity, it must be part of a larger, multifaceted strategy to address the root causes of Islamic extremism and instability in the region.”
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