Today, on 23 July 2025, a Panel of three judges of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) composed of Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Presiding, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze, and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin completed the review concerning the reduction of sentence against Mr. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud ("Al Hassan"). The Panel decided to reduce the original 10-year sentence, by 12 months. Accordingly the date of completion of Mr Al Hassan's sentence is now set to 28 March 2027.
The Panel recalled that the purpose of the sentence review procedure, after two thirds of the sentence have been served, is to serve the interests of justice by ensuring a realistic prospect of resocialization for the sentenced person, while also taking into account the concerns of victims and the State of resettlement, in the hope of ultimately contributing to the healing of the affected communities.
The Panel examined thoroughly a number of factors. It attached considerable weight to Mr Al Hassan's contribution to the efficient administration of justice, notably his decision to discontinue his appeal against his conviction and not to appeal his sentence, which, inter alia, facilitates timely progress in the reparations phase of a case, a factor of particular importance in the context of the ICC. The Panel also took into account the personal circumstances of Mr Al Hassan and the potential impact of his apologies and his expression of regret on the victims. Moreover, the Panel considered the views of the victims affected, the psychological and symbolic impact the sentence review has on them and the views expressed by the Republic of Mali.
Background
On 26 June 2024, Trial Chamber X, by majority, convicted Mr Al Hassan 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, was to be deducted from his sentence.
On 17 December 2024, the Defence and the Prosecution discontinued their appeals against the guilty verdict in the case.
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