In a landmark ruling, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced al-Hassan ag Abdoul Aziz ag Mohamed ag Mahmoud, the former chief of the Islamic police in Timbuktu, Mali, to 10 years in prison for war crimes. Prosecutors described him as a key figure in a “reign of terror” that began after the city was seized by the al-Qaeda-associated Ansar Dine group in 2012. His charges included torture and allowing public amputations and brutal floggings of residents, even children. However, he was acquitted of more severe charges related to rape and the destruction of Timbuktu’s ancient mausoleums.
Al-Hassan was handed over to the ICC in 2018, tracing back to the French liberation of Timbuktu from jihadist control five years earlier. The Ansar Dine group exploited an ethnic Tuareg uprising to capture the northern cities, plunging them into chaos. Notably, another leader responsible for the destruction of the city's historical sites had previously been sentenced to nine years in 2016. Timbuktu, renowned as an Islamic learning hub during the 13th to 17th centuries, remains a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, reflecting its deep cultural and historical significance.
Al-Hassan was handed over to the ICC in 2018, tracing back to the French liberation of Timbuktu from jihadist control five years earlier. The Ansar Dine group exploited an ethnic Tuareg uprising to capture the northern cities, plunging them into chaos. Notably, another leader responsible for the destruction of the city's historical sites had previously been sentenced to nine years in 2016. Timbuktu, renowned as an Islamic learning hub during the 13th to 17th centuries, remains a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, reflecting its deep cultural and historical significance.
