Mali: Former Al-Qaeda linked police chief jailed for 10 years

The International Criminal Court has sentenced the al-Qaeda linked former head of Islamic police in Timbuktu to 10 years in prison for war crimes, according to AfricaNews and Agencies.

On November 20th, the Mali police chief, Al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, was found guilty of guilty of torture, overseeing public amputations and organising brutal floggings, including those of children.

Al-Hassan led a “reign of terror”, according to prosecutors, following the capture of Timbuktu by al-Qaeda linked group, Ansar Dine, in 2012.

While the court acknowledged sexual abuse had occurred under Al-Hassan’s leadership, it ruled he was not directly responsible and acquitted him of charges of rape and sexual slavery.

Presiding judge Kimberly Prost described the sentence as “proportionate to the gravity of the crimes.”

Both sides have appealed.

AfricaNews and Agencies