Sudanese Court Sentences Soldiers to Death for War Crimes in Darfur

November 28 -- A special court in Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, sentenced two Sudanese soldiers to death on November 17 for the murder of a Darfurian man. According to reports, the special court found Lance Corporals Bekheit Mohamed Bekheit and Abdel Malik Abdallah Mohamed guilty of premeditated murder of Adam Idriss Mohamed Hamid. The soldiers had arrested Hamid on suspicion of involvement with Darfur rebels; following his arrest, the soldiers beat Hamid severely, which led to Hamid’s death.

Sudan established a Special Criminal Tribunal to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses within the country. However, international observers question the ability and willingness of the Special Criminal Tribunal to carry out its duties given the likelihood that some accused of rights violations hold posts in the Sudanese government. Government officials have claimed the Special Criminal Tribunal demonstrates Sudan’s ability to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, thus negating the authority of the International Criminal Court to investigate atrocities in Darfur per the recommendation of the UN Security Council in March 2005.

Last updated November 29, 2005

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