Ali Kushayb, a long-time wanted criminal over war crimes in the western Sudanese region of Darfur voluntarily turned himself in to authorities in the Central African Republic, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced.
The court, based in the Hague, Netherlands, said in a statement that Kushayb has voluntarily surrendered to authorities on account of an ICC arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him on April 27, 2007.
A source in the Central African Republic government said that Kushayb has been transferred to The Hague, as he was wanted by the International Criminal Court to face war crimes charges.
The source said that a plane carrying Kushayb left the Central African Republic on Tuesday after his arrest in the northern town of Birao, according to Reuters news agency.
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Kushayb[/caption]
According to ICC statement, Kushayb, Sudanese national born approximately in 1957, was allegedly one of the most senior leaders in the tribal hierarchy in the Wadi Salih locality and member of the Popular Defense Forces (PDF) and allegedly commanded thousands of Janjaweed militia from on or about August 2003 until on or about March 2004.
He is alleged to have implemented the counter-insurgency strategy of the Government of Sudan that also resulted in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan.
"Kushayb is perceived to be the mediator between the leaders of the Janjaweed militia in Wadi Salih and the Government of Sudan. He is also alleged to have enlisted fighters, armed, funded and provided food and other supplies to the Janjaweed militia under his command, thereby intentionally contributing to the above-mentioned crimes." the statement read.
"Kushayb is alleged to have personally participated in some of the attacks against civilians namely in the towns of Kodoom, Bindist, Mukjar and Arawala between August 2003 and March 2004, where the killing of civilians, rape, torture and other cruel treatments occurred, therefore he allegedly committed, jointly with others, the above-mentioned crimes."
The court had issued an indictment against former Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in 2009 for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The court also charged the former defense minister, Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Husayn, the former interior minister Ahmad Harun, and Kushayb.
The court referred the Sudan file to the UN Security Council in 2010 for not cooperating with the court.
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