Sahel: What lies behind the ICC’s belated action against Iyad Ag Ghaly?

For years, Iyad Ag Ghaly, the notorious leader of the Tuareg rebellion and a key figure in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has terrorized the Sahel region. Yet, it was only on Friday, June 21, 2024, that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between January 2012 and January 2013 in northern Mali.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I made the warrant public at the prosecutor’s request. Although initially issued under seal on July 18, 2017, the warrant’s disclosure now raises critical questions.

Why the prolonged wait to act against Iyad Ag Ghaly, whose heinous crimes have been well-documented for years?

Known as “Abou Fadl,” Iyad Ag Ghaly stands accused of numerous atrocities, including the murder of combatant soldiers in Aguelhoc, rape, sexual slavery, and other forms of sexual violence and bodily harm.

He also faces charges of crimes against humanity, such as imprisonment, rape, sexual slavery, and religious and gender-based persecution.

These brutal crimes, primarily committed in Timbuktu between January 2012 and January 2013, and the massacre at Aguelhoc on January 24, 2012, demanded a swift and decisive response from the international community.

However, Iyad Ag Ghaly remained at large, continuing his reign of terror.

The delayed action of the ICC prompts several pressing questions. Why did it take so long to act against a man whose guilt has been evident for years?

What caused the delay in publishing the 2017 arrest warrant? Is this merely a case of bureaucratic inertia, or are there more complex and obscure reasons behind the postponement?

This delayed response not only undermines the credibility of international justice but also highlights the urgent need for more efficient mechanisms to bring war criminals to account swiftly.

The world watches closely as Iyad Ag Ghaly’s case unfolds, hoping for justice for the countless victims of his atrocities.

Maurice K. ZONGO