AHMAD AL-FAQI AL-MAHDI is facing charges of destroying nine shrines and a mosque in the ancient city of Timbuktu in 2012.
AL-MAHDI is also alleged to be a member of the Ansar Dine Islamist group that occupied Timbuktu world heritage site for month.
The case is the first of its kind where the ICC is handling destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime, as well as the first involving an Islamist militant.
Meanwhile; reports just coming in says AHMAD AL-FAQI AL-MAHDI has pleaded guilty to the charges against him
