
The International Criminal Court has recently made a significant ruling, convicting an al Qaeda-linked leader of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Timbuktu, northern Mali. The individual in question, Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, held a senior position within the Islamic Police and was recruited by al Qaeda leaders, according to a statement released by the ICC.
The ICC highlighted the crucial role played by the Islamic Police in the implementation of a system that led to the commission of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Timbuktu between April 2012 and May 2013, in collaboration with the Islamist group Ansar Dine.