The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, a leader linked to al-Qaeda, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Timbuktu, Mali, during 2012-2013. Al Hassan, 46, was found guilty of multiple charges, including torture, rape, sexual slavery, and the destruction of religious and historic buildings, for which he could face life imprisonment.
Prosecutors revealed that Al Hassan, a key figure in Ansar al-Din, was instrumental in enforcing the group’s brutal regime in northern Mali. He served as police chief during their control of Timbuktu, personally overseeing acts of violence such as amputations and floggings. Despite his defense lawyer Melinda Taylor arguing that he was merely following orders, the court found substantial evidence of his active involvement in these atrocities.
The ICC’s decision marks the second conviction of a Malian leader for similar crimes in Timbuktu, following the sentencing of Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi in 2016 for destroying religious sanctuaries. Victims in Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, await possible compensation and justice for the severe human rights violations they endured under Ansar al-Din’s regime.
