[JURIST] Ali Kosheib, former militia leader turned officer of the Sudan [BBC backgrounder] Central Reserve Police, was spotted in an attack [HRW press release] against Salamat communities in Central Darfur [JURIST news archive] in April, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] on Monday. Kosheib, also known as Ali Mohammed Ali, faces a 2007 arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] for crimes against humanity and war crimes in West Darfur in 2003 and 2004. HRW alerted the ICC after interviewing refugees who fled the attack via the Chadian border last month. The refugees indicated that Kosheib appeared to be involved in the attacks by groups of men that used police-style vehicles, equipment and uniforms. HRW noted that the UN Security Council will be briefed by the ICC prosecutor this Wednesday and called on the Security Council to pressure Sudan to surrender Kosheib.

There has been significant international attention surrounding the human rights violations in the region. Deputy commander of the JEM-Bashar Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus [ICC case summary], also wanted by the ICC, was reportedly killed in Northern Darfur in April. Jamus was charged in connection with an attack on African Union (AU) [official website] Peace Keepers in September 2007 at Haskanita [BBC backgrounder], which resulted in the death of 12 peacekeepers. Despite the loss of high-profile leaders, fighting in Sudan has continued as the trials of leaders move forward. In December the ICC called upon [JURIST report] the UN to do more in Darfur. In October a UN rights office urged [JURIST report] Sudan to investigate an ambush on a UN convoy. That same office asked [JURIST report] Sudan to investigate violence against peaceful protesters in the region.