Mali: Ex-Al-Qaida-Linked Police Chief Sentenced to 10 Years for War Crimes

A former al-Qaida-linked police chief in Mali receives a 10-year prison sentence for committing war crimes, marking a milestone in justice for victims. 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced Al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, the former chief of Islamic police in Timbuktu, Mali, to a 10-year prison term for committing war crimes.

Prosecutors charged 47-year-old Al-Hassan with leading a “reign of terror” following the capture of the historic city by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansar Dine group in 2012. He was convicted of torture, supervising public amputations, and orchestrating brutal floggings, including those involving children.

Judge Kimberly Prost described the sentence as “proportionate to the gravity of the crimes,” recognizing the harm inflicted on the victims.

Al-Hassan, who maintains his innocence, was acquitted of charges related to rape, sexual slavery, and the destruction of ancient mausoleums in Timbuktu. Although the ICC acknowledged that sexual violence crimes took place during Ansar Dine’s rule, they concluded that he was not directly responsible for these acts.

An appeal has been filed by both parties.

Human rights organizations expressed disappointment over his acquittal on gender-based crimes, highlighting testimonies from women who reported being raped while in detention.

Al-Hassan was transferred to the ICC by Malian authorities in 2018. His six years of detention will be subtracted from his sentence.

The court considered “mitigating circumstances,” specifically highlighting “the limited efforts made by Mr. Al Hassan to aid the civilian population during 2012-2013” and “his cooperation with the Prosecution during the investigation phase.”

Compensation for victims will be considered at a later time.

Timbuktu, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and once an esteemed hub of Islamic scholarship from the 13th to 17th centuries, experienced considerable destruction during the Islamist occupation in 2012. In relation to this event, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi—an Ansar Dine member—was sentenced in 2016 to nine years for his role in demolishing the city’s historic shrines.