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The warrant of arrest for Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud was issued on 27 March 2018. He was surrendered to the ICC on 31 March 2018. He is in the Court's custody. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 8 to 17 July 2019. On 30 September 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a confidential decision confirming the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Mr Al Hassan and committed him to trial. The redacted version of the decision was published on 13 November 2019. On 23 April 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber I partially granted the Prosecutor's request to modify the charges against Mr Al Hassan; the redacted version of this decision was published on 11 May 2020. The trial opened on 14-15 July 2020, including with the opening statement of the Prosecutor.
The trial resumed on 8 September 2020, when the Prosecution started to present its evidence and call its witnesses before the judges. 52 oral witnesses were called by the Prosecution at this stage.
On 8 February 2022, the Legal Representatives of Victims made their opening statements before the judges. From 8 to 10 February 2022, the Legal Representatives called two witnesses to testify.
On 9 May 2022, the Defence of Mr Al Hassan made its opening statement before Trial Chamber X. The first Defence witness started testifying on 10 May 2022. 22 Defense witnesses appeared in court, the last having completed testimony on 3 November 2022. On 6 February 2023, the Defence notified the judges of the closure of its presentation of evidence. On 8 February 2023, Trial Chamber X declared the closure of the submission of evidence in this case and participants were requested to file their final briefs.
The closing statements of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Legal Representatives of Victims, and the Defence are scheduled took place from 23 to 25 May 2023.
On 26 June 2024, Trial Chamber X, by majority, convicted Mr Al Hassan of some of the charges brought against him of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between 2 April 2012 and 29 January 2013 in Timbuktu, northern Mali, controlled at that time by the armed groups Ansar Dine and Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb.
On 20 November 2024, Trial Chamber X sentenced Mr Al Hassan to 10 years of imprisonment. The time spent in detention, from 28 March 2018 to 20 November 2024, will be deducted from his sentence.
On 17 December 2024, both the Defence and the Prosecutor discontinued their appeals against the guilty verdict and will not appeal the sentence.
On 23 July 2025, a panel of three judges of the Appeals Chamber decided to reduce Mr Al Hassan's 10-year sentence of imprisonment by 12 months. The date for the completion of his sentence is set to 28 March 2027.
Mr Al Hassan will remain in the ICC detention centre until the ICC designates a country to serve his sentence.
Next steps: On 28 April 2026, Trial Chamber X delivered its reparations order for victims against Mr Al Hassan. The Chamber instructed the ICC Trust Fund for Victims to prepare a Draft Implementation Plan, which should be submitted for the Chamber’s approval by 25 January 2027. The Defence and the Legal Representatives of the Victims may appeal the Reparations Order within 30 days.
Found guilty, sentenced to 9 years. Reparations Order for victims pronounced by judges and is final.
Accused makes an admission of guilt at trial opening
On 22 August 2016, the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi opened before Trial Chamber VIII at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. Mr Al Mahdi admitted guilt as to the war crime consisting in the destruction of historical and religious monuments in Timbuktu (Mali), between around 30 June 2012 and 11 July 2012. This is the first international trial focusing on the destruction of historical and religious monuments, and the first ICC case where the defendant made an admission of guilt.
The ICC warrant of arrest was issued under seal on 18 July 2017. The warrant was unsealed on 21 June 2024. The suspect is still at large.
Next steps: Until Iyad Ag Ghaly is arrested and transferred to the seat of the Court in The Hague, the case will remain in the Pre-Trial stage. The ICC does not try individuals unless they are present in the courtroom. Until Iyad Ag Ghaly is arrested and transferred to the seat of the Court in The Hague, the case will remain in the Pre-Trial stage. The ICC does not try individuals unless they are present in the courtroom.