THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court is holding a public hearing on reparations for victims in the case of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, placing the needs of people affected by the Darfur conflict at the center of proceedings.

The hearing, scheduled for September 8, 2026, marks an important stage in the Court’s consideration of how victims of crimes covered by the case may receive reparations. The proceedings are being made available to the public through the ICC’s online platforms, with the Court providing access in English, French and Arabic.

A Case Rooted in the Darfur Conflict

Abd-Al-Rahman is a former alleged leader of the Janjaweed militia who was transferred into ICC custody in June 2020 after voluntarily surrendering in the Central African Republic.

The ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him in 2007, followed by a second warrant that was made public in 2020. The charges confirmed against him in 2021 included war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the conflict in Darfur.

The case subsequently proceeded to trial before Trial Chamber I.

The proceedings have involved substantial participation by victims. According to the ICC’s case information, judges authorized 142 victims to participate in the trial through their legal representatives.

Why Reparations Matter

Reparations proceedings have a different purpose from determining criminal responsibility.

They focus on the harm suffered by victims and on appropriate ways of addressing that harm following the Court’s findings.

Under the ICC’s framework, reparations can potentially take different forms depending on the circumstances. They may include financial compensation, rehabilitation, restitution or symbolic measures designed to acknowledge victims’ suffering.

The Court has previously explained that reparations can be ordered on an individual or collective basis, depending on what judges consider appropriate. The Trust Fund for Victims may also play a role in implementing reparations orders, including situations in which a convicted person does not have sufficient resources to meet an order.

The Significance for Darfur Victims

For people affected by the violence in Darfur, the reparations process represents another part of the pursuit of justice.

Criminal trials primarily establish responsibility for crimes and impose appropriate legal consequences. Reparations address another question: how can the damage experienced by victims be recognized and, where possible, addressed?

That distinction is particularly important in cases involving large numbers of victims and widespread harm.

The ICC’s reparations process therefore has both practical and symbolic dimensions. It can provide assistance to victims while also formally recognizing the consequences of crimes established through the Court’s judicial process.

A Long Legal Journey

The Abd-Al-Rahman proceedings have developed over many years.

The ICC’s first arrest warrant was issued in April 2007. More than a decade later, Abd-Al-Rahman surrendered himself and was transferred to the Court’s custody in June 2020.

The confirmation-of-charges hearing took place in May 2021. Two months later, Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed the charges and committed the case to trial. Trial Chamber I was constituted in July 2021, with the trial subsequently scheduled to begin in April 2022.

The lengthy timeline illustrates the complexity of international criminal proceedings, particularly when allegations concern events that occurred years before a suspect reaches the Court.

Victims Have a Role in ICC Proceedings

The ICC allows eligible victims to participate in proceedings under conditions established by its legal framework.

Their participation can include receiving information about the case, attending hearings and making submissions through legal representatives. The Court has emphasized that victims’ participation is separate from the role of the prosecution.

In the Abd-Al-Rahman proceedings, the participation of 142 victims was authorized by the judges.

Their involvement is particularly relevant during reparations proceedings because the Court must consider the nature and extent of harm when determining appropriate measures.

The Court’s Focus on Harm

The reparations stage can require judges to consider evidence concerning the consequences suffered by victims.

This can involve questions surrounding physical injury, psychological harm, loss of property, displacement and other consequences connected to crimes established in the case.

The process is therefore not simply about assigning a monetary value to suffering. It can involve determining which forms of assistance or recognition are most appropriate for affected communities and individuals.

International Attention

The hearing is also significant because the Darfur conflict remains one of the major situations investigated by the ICC.

The Court’s Darfur work has involved multiple cases and suspects, reflecting the scale and complexity of alleged international crimes committed during the conflict.

The Abd-Al-Rahman case is one part of that wider judicial effort.

By continuing proceedings years after the alleged crimes occurred, the ICC demonstrates the long-term nature of international justice mechanisms.

Public Access to the Hearing

The ICC announced that the reparations hearing would be publicly streamed, with a delay, through its website. The Court also indicated that the hearing would be available through its social-media video channels in different languages.

Public access allows observers around the world to follow an important phase of the proceedings without being physically present at the Court in The Hague.

For victims, legal representatives and international observers, transparency can be particularly important in cases involving allegations of mass atrocities.

Beyond the Courtroom

The reparations process illustrates that international justice does not necessarily end with a verdict.

For victims of serious international crimes, justice can involve accountability, recognition, assistance and measures intended to address the consequences of violence.

The ICC hearing in the Abd-Al-Rahman case therefore carries significance beyond the legal arguments presented before the judges. It places the experiences and needs of victims at the center of another stage of a judicial process that began years ago.

As the Court considers the reparations issues, the proceedings will provide an important indication of how the ICC approaches the practical consequences of crimes committed during the Darfur conflict.

For survivors and affected communities, the process represents an opportunity for their losses and suffering to remain part of the official judicial record and for the Court to consider what forms of redress may be appropriate.