Draft:Johann Soufi

Johann Lounès Soufi is a French lawyer, prosecutor, and academic of Algerian descent, known for his expertise in international criminal justice and human rights. He has played significant roles in major international legal cases.

Early life and education
Born to a Breton mother and a Kabyle father. , Johann Soufi was raised in Cergy, Val-d’Oise, where he pursued his law studies. After earning his degree, he joined a criminal law firm in Pontoise but soon decided to specialize in international criminal law.

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (2007-2011)
At 25, Soufi joined the defense team for the former Rwandan senior official, Callixte Kalimanzira, at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania, significantly contributing to his trial for involvement in the Rwandan genocide.

In 2009, he was recruited by the tribunal's president, Khalida Rashid Khan, to assist in drafting the trial judgment of the Rwandan interim government during the genocide.

Special Court for Sierra Leone (2011-2012)
In 2011, Soufi contributed to drafting and coordinating the judgment against Liberia's former President Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison on April 26, 2012, for his role in severe international crimes during the conflict in Sierra Leone, marking a significant milestone in international justice.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon (2012-2018)
Soufi continued his career in international criminal justice by leading the legal advice section of the Defense Office at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during the in-absentia trial of the alleged assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

International Commission of Inquiry in Mali (2018-2020)

In 2018, Soufi was appointed legal advisor to the International Commission of Inquiry for Mali by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to investigate international crimes and human rights abuses committed in Mali between 2012 and 2018. The commission concluded its mission in June 2020.

Legal Office of UNRWA in Gaza (2020-2022)

In June 2020, Soufi headed the Legal Office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, a position he held for over two years before leaving at the end of 2022

International prosecutor in Ukraine (2023)
In March 2023, Soufi joined Global Rights Compliance as an international prosecutor, providing legal and strategic advice to the Attorney General of Ukraine and building cases against the main perpetrators of crimes since the onset of the war in Ukraine.

Academic life
Soufi is a doctoral candidate in international criminal law and a research associate at the Thucydide Center of the University Paris II Panthéon-Assas (France) and the International Criminal and Humanitarian Law Clinic of Laval University (Canada). He has been involved in numerous publications and academic conferences on international criminal justice.

Engagement on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
In September 2023, Soufi highlighted in Le Monde the necessity for the ICC's Prosecutor, Karim Khan, to prioritize the situation in Palestine to maintain credibility with Global South nations, similar to the approach with Ukraine. Following the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and the Israeli counterattack on Gaza, Soufi became a prominent voice on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the international law violations in Israel and Palestine. He advocated for justice for all victims and prosecution of international crimes by both sides, emphasizing the need for universal and equitable application of international criminal justice.

Influence and Recognition
Soufi is listed as counsel at the International Criminal Court and co-heads the Institute for Legal and Advocacy Training based in The Hague. His expertise in international law and international criminal justice is widely recognized, making him a frequent guest in media and consulted by political and civil society actors.