On the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the attacks against the Mausoleums in Timbuktu, Mali, the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to inform that it has completed the implementation of the reparations programme in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi. The reparations delivered mark a historic milestone for the victims and community of Timbuktu and a landmark in the practice of international criminal justice.
Between 30 June and 11 July 2012, while Timbuktu was under the control of armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, Mr Al Faqi Al Mahdi organised and took part in attacks on ten of the most important sites, including the mausoleums of Timbuktu's saints and the Sidi Yahia Mosque. The mausoleums had long been places of pilgrimage and considered to spiritually protect the city. Timbuktu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 for its role in the spread of Islam in Africa and as a historic centre of learning.
In 2015, Mr Al Mahdi was surrendered to the Court and convicted for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against historic and religious monuments in Timbuktu in 2012. In addition to a sentence of nine years of imprisonment, on 17 August 2017 ICC judges instructed him to pay EUR 2.7 million for reparations to the victims recognised in this case.
As of 31 March 2026, the TFV has fully implemented the reparations programme in accordance with the Reparations Order. This completion was formally communicated to ICC Trial Chamber II on 29 April 2026 and to the Government of Mali on 6 May 2026.
The Al Mahdi Reparations Programme comprised three principal components: symbolic, individual, and collective reparations.
Symbolic measures to address the impact that the crimes of Mr Al Mahdi had on the Malian people and the international community were implemented through a solemn ceremony held on 30 March 2021, in the presence of representatives of this group of victims, the State of Mali and UNESCO, respectively.
Individual reparations were provided in the form of financial compensation to eligible individuals - namely direct descendants of Saints associated with the destroyed mausoleums, as well as persons whose livelihoods were exclusively dependent on these protected buildings. This component commenced in April 2019 and was finalised on 4 June 2024, reaching all but four of the 1,691 eligible victims.
A comprehensive framework of collective reparations was put in place for the benefit of the community of Timbuktu, recognised as victims of moral and economic harm, as well as to address the damage to cultural heritage. Delivered between July 2022 and 31 March 2026, these measures benefited more than 70,000 members of the local communities of Timbuktu. These measures were implemented in partnership with UNESCO, CIDEAL Foundation, and the local organisation CFOGRAD, which worked with determination over the past five years to make the programme successful.
Measures addressing moral harm were delivered by combining community-based psychological support and memorialisation initiatives, including the construction of two memorials in Timbuktu: Louha and Qâloum, as well as a permanent exhibit on mausoleums displayed at the municipal museum of Timbuktu. Economic harm was addressed at the community level through a funding mechanism that supported 70 initiatives led by local groups, in addition to three projects implemented by the Urban Commune, aimed at strengthening livelihoods, skills, and cultural heritage. Heritage preservation measures included the restoration and protection of mausoleums and cemetery structures, environmental safeguards, capacity-building for local custodians, and the establishment of a maintenance fund to ensure long-term sustainability.
The programme was designed with strong features aligned with the ICC Reparation Principles, including a participatory mechanism, and the integration of conflict sensitivity. The programme's feminist approach has also guaranteed a systematic focus on women, illustrating the best of contemporary justice. Victim participation remained at the heart of the programme. Extensive consultations ensured that reparations were shaped by those directly affected, reinforcing inclusivity, transparency and local ownership throughout implementation.
"I am filled with joy, satisfaction, and honour. These reparations-beyond the various achievements-are a symbol; a symbol that allows us to tell our children what we have experienced, a symbol that illustrates the greatness of Timbuktu, and a symbol that reminds us that this crime must never, ever happen again," declared Fatoumata A (Pseudonym), a resident of Timbuktu who participated in the reparation activities.
The completion of this programme in a highly challenging and evolving security context underscores the resilience of the Rome Statute system.
Implementation was made possible thanks to a close and constructive cooperation between the TFV and the Malian authorities over a period of seven years, through steering committees established at national, regional and local levels.
Mr Andres Parmas, Chairperson of the TFV Board of Directors stated, "This programme constitutes a landmark in the practice of international criminal justice, marking the first instance at the global level of judicial reparations for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against protected religious and historic buildings. It demonstrates the relevance of the Rome Statute system in holding perpetrators accountable for such crimes and in delivering meaningful reparative justice to victims and affected communities, while safeguarding cultural heritage of universal significance."
The reparations delivered were made possible by earmarked contributions from the Governments of Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Unrestricted contributions from the Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Liechtenstein, and other supporters were allocated by the Board of Directors to this case. Assessed contributions from all States Parties to the ICC Regular Budget enabled the judicial process and essential programmatic components, including staffing, travel, and operational support.
To prepare the final report for submission to the relevant Trial Chamber in early 2027, the TFV has commissioned an independent external evaluation to assess the contribution of reparations to peace and security, memory, truth, and justice.
As the TFV announces publicly the completion of the Reparation Programme, on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the attack against Timbuktu it regrets the notification made by the State of Mali to the United Nations on 30 June 2026 to withdraw from the Rome Statute. This decision weakens the system of reparative justice that has benefited the community of Timbuktu. The TFV will continue to engage with the authorities of Mali to maximise the impact of the Al Mahdi reparations, as well as to set the conditions that may enable the implementation of reparations ordered by the ICC in relation to the crime of religious persecution, amongst other crimes related to the Al Hassan case.
The TFV remains committed to ensuring that the achievements of this programme are widely disseminated and preserved, thereby strengthening the relevance, legitimacy, and enduring legacy and the universality of the Rome Statute system.
