Malian Islamist rebel, Al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz, who was accused of spearheading the persecution of civilians in Timbuktu and the destruction of the city’s holy grounds has refused to enter a plea. This was disclosed on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, after prosecutors re-opened a trial against al-Hassan at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Al-Hassan was surrendered by the Malian government to the ICC in March 2018. Sometime in September 2019, the accused appeared before the ICC for trial on the charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes carried out during 2012 and 2013. On 30 September 2019, ICC judges confirmed the charges against al-Hassan, stating that the trial would proceed.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 16, 2020 08:30 UTC