Statement of the ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda following surrender of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi

Описание: Situation: Mali
Statement of the ICC Prosecutor - Fatou Bensouda
The surrender by Niger authorities of the suspect, Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi and his transfer to the custody of the International Criminal Court is a welcome development. It represents an important step forward in the fight against impunity, not only in Mali but also in the broader Sahel and Sahara region of Africa, whose populations have in recent years been subjected to unspeakable crimes.
Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, also known as “Abou Tourab” is charged with the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against ten buildings dedicated to religion and historic monuments in the ancient city of Timbuktu, Mali. A zealous member of an armed group, self-proclaimed “Ansar Dine”, he played a predominant and active role in the functioning of the local structure put in place during the group’s occupation of Timbuktu in 2012, as detailed in my Office’s application for the warrant of arrest which led to his surrender.
The people of Mali deserve justice for the attacks against their cities, their beliefs and their communities. Let there be no mistake: the charges we have brought against Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi involve most serious crimes; they are about the destruction of irreplaceable historic monuments, and they are about a callous assault on the dignity and identity of entire populations, and their religious and historical roots. The inhabitants of Northern Mali, the main victims of these attacks, deserve to see justice done.