ICC drops war crimes case against fugitive Sudan rebel Abdallah Banda
8 reported
International Criminal Court judges reluctantly dropped a case Thursday against fugitive Sudanese rebel Abdallah Banda, who faced three war crimes counts related to his alleged involvement in a deadly 2007 attack on a peacekeeping camp in northern Darfur. Prosecutors requested the charges be dropped, stating they could no longer prove their case at trial due to setbacks including two key witnesses no longer considered credible and a new witness whose testimony could help clear Banda. An independent analyst who studied the evidence agreed with the prosecution’s assessment. Judges were unusually critical of prosecutors in a written decision made public last week, ruling that proceeding to trial with a prosecutor who refuses to present the case despite evidentiary and legal obligations would contravene the chamber’s obligation to ensure a fair and efficient trial. Prosecutors acknowledged the request would impact 103 victims who have waited over 15 years for justice. The decision comes as the court faces a concerted effort by the Trump administration to dismantle the ICC and as chief prosecutor Karim Khan faces a vote Friday on whether to be ousted over allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide, which he denies.
What’s reported
ICC judges dropped the case against Abdallah Banda, a Sudanese rebel accused of attacking African Union peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007.
Prosecutors requested the charges be dropped, saying they could no longer prove the case at trial.
Setbacks included two key witnesses no longer considered credible and a new witness whose testimony could help clear Banda.
An independent analyst agreed with the prosecution’s assessment.
Judges ruled that proceeding to trial with a prosecutor refusing to present the case would violate the obligation to ensure a fair and efficient trial.
The decision impacts 103 victims who have waited over 15 years for justice.
The ICC faces a concerted effort by the Trump administration to dismantle the court.
Chief prosecutor Karim Khan faces a vote Friday on whether to be ousted over sexual misconduct allegations he denies.
Key figures
Abdallah Banda: Sudanese rebel accused of attacking peacekeepers in Darfur.
Karim Khan: ICC chief prosecutor facing a vote on ouster over sexual misconduct allegations he denies.
Nazhat Shameem Khan: ICC deputy prosecutor who told the U.N. Security Council last year that the humanitarian crisis in Darfur has reached an intolerable state.
Sources: abcnews.com
