An Arrest Warrant For A Mali Suspect Accused Of Crimes In 2012 Is Unsealed By The Icc

An arrest warrant for a Malian who is suspected of commanding an Islamic extremist group with ties to al-Qaida and of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the desert city of Timbuktu in 2012–2013 was unsealed by the International Criminal Court on Friday.

In 2017, the initial sealed warrant for Iyad Ag Ghaly, alias Abou Fadl, was issued. It accuses him of committing crimes such as sexual enslavement, murder, rape, and persecution of women and girls according to their gender.

According to the French-language warrant, it covers crimes in Timbuktu as well as an attack on a military base when more than forty Malian troops, including some who had surrendered and others who were in the base’s hospital, were put to death for not taking part in combat.

There are “reasonable grounds to believe that he would be the undisputed leader” of Ansar Dine, the extremist organization that was in control of northern Mali at the time, the court stated in a statement.

The reason behind the prosecution’ request to have the warrant disclosed at this time was first unclear.

When Malian authorities asked the court to intervene, the prosecution office of the court welcomed the unsealing and stated in a written statement that the warrant for Ghaly “reflects the continued efforts of the Office to deliver justice for those in Mali who fell victim to crimes that were committed since 2012.”