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Omar al-Bashir
President of Sudan (1989-2019)
First Sitting Head of State Indicted by the ICC for Genocide
Overview
Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir seized power in Sudan through a military coup in 1989 and ruled for 30 years. He directed the genocide in Darfur beginning in 2003, using the Janjaweed militia to carry out ethnic cleansing against the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa peoples, killing an estimated 300,000-400,000 and displacing 2.5 million. He became the first sitting head of state indicted by the International Criminal Court.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Directed the Darfur genocide (2003+) using Janjaweed militia - 300,000-400,000 killed, 2.5 million displaced
First sitting head of state indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity
Orchestrated two civil wars with South Sudan resulting in over 2 million deaths
Janjaweed "scorched earth" campaign: villages burned, wells poisoned, systematic rape used as weapon of war
Harbored Osama bin Laden in Sudan (1992-1996)
Imposed strict Sharia law; authorized flogging, stoning, and amputation as punishments
Refused to surrender to the ICC; traveled internationally despite arrest warrant
Overthrown in April 2019 military coup during popular uprising; currently awaiting trial in Sudan
Related Investigations (2)
Criminal Charges & Violations
3 documented violations
ICC - Genocide (Article 6)Three counts of genocide by killing, causing serious bodily/mental harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions to destroy Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa groups(Genocide)
ICC - Crimes Against Humanity (Article 7)Murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, rape(Crimes Against Humanity)
ICC - War Crimes (Article 8)Intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations in Darfur(War Crimes)
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- 1944-01-01
- Birthplace
- Hosh Bannaga, Sudan
Education
- •Sudanese Military Academy
- •Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College
Key Timeline
1944-01-01
Born in Hosh Bannaga, Sudan
1989-06-30
Seizes power in military coup
2003
Darfur conflict begins; deploys Janjaweed militia against civilian populations
2009-03-04
ICC issues first arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity
2010-07-12
ICC issues second arrest warrant adding genocide charges
2019-04-11
Overthrown in military coup during popular revolution
2020
Sudanese transitional government agrees to hand him over to ICC