Bahr Idriss Abu Garda

Bahr Idriss Abu Gard
Born (1963-01-01) 1 January 1963 (age 61)[1]
Nana, North Darfur, Sudan[1]
NationalitySudanese
EducationEconomy
OccupationMinister of Health 2011
Known forIndicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes

Bahr Idriss Abu Garda (born 1 January 1963)[1] is the leader of the United Resistance Front, a rebel group fighting against the Sudanese government in Darfur.[2] He is a former commander of the Justice and Equality Movement.[3][4]

Abu Garda was summonsed to appear before the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes relating to a 2007 attack in which twelve African Union peacekeepers were killed.[3] He is the first person to appear voluntarily before the ICC, and the first person to appear before the court in connection with the war in Darfur. He denied the allegations against him: "I am looking forward to clear my name from this case because I am sure ... that absolutely I am not guilty".[5] The hearing to confirm the charges against him was held from 19 to 29 October 2009, ending in a decision by the judges not to confirm the charges and a rejection 23 April 2010 of an appeal by the Prosecutor.[6]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference icc-info-sheet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Marlise Simons (18 May 2009). "Darfur Rebel Faces International Court in Hague". The New York Times. Accessed on 5 July 2009.
  3. ^ a b BBC News (18 May 2009). "Darfur rebel appears before ICC". Accessed on 5 July 2009.
  4. ^ Trial Watch (2009). "Bahr Idriss Abu Garda". Accessed on 5 July 2009.
  5. ^ Mike Corder (18 May 2009). "Sudan rebel chief surrenders to war crime court". The Associated Press. Accessed on 5 July 2009.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference AbuGarda_charges_dropped was invoked but never defined (see the help page).