An alleged militant accused of destroying ancient monuments in Timbuktu became the first person to appear at the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged with damaging cultural heritage.
Appearing at the court last Wednesday, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi was informed of the charges levelled against him. A further hearing will be held on 18 January where the judge will decide if the evidence against Mr Mahdi is strong enough to establish a full trial.
The ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda launced an investigation into alleged war crimes in Mali after Tuareg rebels seized parts of northern Mali in April 2012 and destroyed ancient shrines in Timbuktu, reports The Guardian.
Ms Bensouda called Mr Mahdi’s arrest an “important step forward in the fight against impunity, not only in Mali but also the broader Sahel and Sahara region in Africa, whose populations have been in recent years subjected to unspeakable crimes.
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