By Hannah Stewart
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAUGE, Netherlands — Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus, a Sudanese rebel charged with war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) has been killed, his defense team has said in a statement.

An ICC document published on Tuesday read: “The Defense of Mr. Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus hereby notifies the trial chamber, with great sadness . . . that Mr. Jerbo died in North Darfur, Sudan on the afternoon of April 19, 2013, and was buried the same day.”

Jerbo, 36, faced charges regarding a deadly attack on African peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007.  Jerbo and fellow Darfur rebel leader Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain face three war crimes charges relating to the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers in an attack on the AU’s Haskanita camp in September 2007.

The two men voluntarily surrendered to the ICC in 2010 and while facing charges, have been free to leave the Netherlands and appear before the Court when summoned.  In 2011, a pre-trial chamber found that there were “substantial grounds” to proceed with trial.

As such, the trial date was set for May 2014; however, before The Hague can drop the case, the Court must receive proof of his death.

Four others are wanted for war crimes in Darfur: Sudanese Defense Minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein; former Sudanese government minister Ahmad Harun; pro-government Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb; and Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, whom prosecutors accuse of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

President al-Bashir continues remain at large, defying an ICC arrest warrant as he travels around the continent.

According to the United Nations, at least 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and two million people have been displaced since the conflict began 10 years ago when rebels began attacking government targets, accusing the Arab-dominated Khartoum regime of oppressing black Africans in favor of Arab communities.

For more information, please see:

AFP  – ICC War Crimes Suspect Killed in Darfur: Laywers – 24 April 2013

All Africa – Sudan: ICC Suspect, JEM-Bashar Deputy Presumable Killed in Darfur – 24 April 2013

BBC – Darfur War Crimes Suspect Rebel Jerbo “Killed in Sudan” – 24 April 2013

Radio Dabanga – Lawyers say ICC Suspect Jerbo Killed in Darfur – 24 April 2013