Bahr Idriss Abu Garda
| Bahr Idriss Abu Garda | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 January 1963 Nana, North Darfur |
| Nationality | Sudanese |
| Known for | Indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes |
| War in Darfur |
|---|
 |
| Timeline |
| International response |
| UNMIS / AMIS / UNAMID |
| ICC investigation |
| Combatants |
| SLM |
| JEM |
| LJM |
| Janjaweed |
| Other articles |
| History of Darfur |
| Bibliography |
Bahr Idriss Abu Garda (born 1 January 1963) is the leader of the United Resistance Front, a rebel group fighting against the Sudanese government in Darfur. He is a former commander of the Justice and Equality Movement.
Abu Garda was summonsed to appear before the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes relating to a 2007 attack in which twelve African Union peacekeepers were killed. He is the first person ever to appear voluntarily before the ICC, and the first person to appear before the court in connection with the war in Darfur. He denies the allegations against him and says "I am looking forward to clear my name from this case because I am sure ... that absolutely I am not guilty". The hearing to confirm the charges against him was held from 19–29 October 2009, ending in a decision by the judges not to confirm the charges
Abu Garda was born in Nana, North Darfur, Sudan and is a member of the Zaghawa tribe.
From January 2005 to September 2007, he was vice-president of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), an armed Islamist group which fought against the Sudanese government and pro-government militia groups in Darfur. He split with the JEM and on 4 October 2007 he participated in the formation of a new armed group called the JEM Collective Leadership.
As of May 2009, he is the leader of the United Resistance Front (URF), another rebel group.
On 20 November 2008, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, presented evidence to the court alleging that Abu Garda and two other rebel commanders were guilty of war crimes in relation to a 2007 operation in which about a thousand rebels surrounded and attacked a camp of African Union peacekeepers in Haskanita, Darfur, killing twelve of them.
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