International Criminal Court Sentences Timbuktu's Islamist Former Police Chief to 10 Years for War Crimes

A key member of the Ansar Dine group, Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the International Criminal Court. The sentence was handed down for his role in a "reign of terror" that occurred in Timbuktu after the group seized control of the city in 2012. Prosecutors claimed that Al Hassan led the Islamic police in Timbuktu and was responsible for numerous human rights abuses. However, he was acquitted of charges related to rape and sexual slavery.