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IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir

October 26, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) special summit on Sudan has been moved from Nairobi to Addis Ababa in a bid to avert a diplomatic row over the attendance of Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Sudan's President, Omer Hassan Al-Bashir attends the promulgation ceremony of Kenya's new constitution in Nairobi on August 27, 2010 in the capital Nairobi (Daily Nation)
Sudan’s President, Omer Hassan Al-Bashir attends the promulgation ceremony of Kenya’s new constitution in Nairobi on August 27, 2010 in the capital Nairobi (Daily Nation)
‘The Standard’ and “Daily Nation’ Kenya-based newspapers quoted sources as saying that the summit organizers transferred the meeting to Ethiopia to shield Bashir who faces an arrest warrant against him from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur.

Last August, Kenya came under intense criticism from Western countries and suffered rifts within its coalition government when it received Al-Bashir at the promulgation of the country’s new constitution despite being an ICC state member with obligation to arrest him. It was Bashir’s second visit to a state party after Chad since the warrants.

Kenya’s refusal to arrest Bashir, who also is charged with genocide, raised doubts about the country’s willingness to hand over suspects expected to soon be charged by the ICC for postelection violence that left more than 1,000 Kenyans dead in 2007-08.

On Monday, the court’s judges have asked Kenya “to take any necessary measure to ensure” Bashir is arrested and turned over for trial or explain “any problem which would impede or prevent” his arrest.

Should the Kenyan government not send a reply to the ICC by October 29th, “we would assume that there are no problems that would prevent them from arresting Mr. Al Bashir,” an ICC spokesman told Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW).

The request issued Monday came after prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo notified judges that al-Bashir may visit Kenya on Saturday for the IGAD summit. The last time such a meeting was held, in March, Sudan’s Vice-President Ali Osman Taha attended.

Last week, 23 pressure groups sent a letter to the Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki to protest Al-Bashir’s invite, saying that his visit would be “an insult” to the victims of Darfur conflict and make “a mockery” of Kenya’s commitment to the ICC.

“A return visit by Al-Bashir would make a mockery of Kenya’s declared commitment to the International Criminal Court, and would be an insult to victims of atrocities in Darfur and globally” said Hassan Shire Sheikh of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Projects.

The letter stated that Kenya’s domestic law, the International Crimes Act and the Kenyan Constitution all oblige the Kenyan government to adhere to its commitment to the ICC.

“For all of these reasons” says the letter “we urge the Kenyan government to clearly affirm its commitment to cooperate with the ICC, as states such as South Africa and Botswana have done, and clarify that President al-Bashir will be arrested should he enter Kenya.”

The letter said that arresting Al-Bashir would be “an important way to show respect for victims in Darfur, along with Kenya’s commitment to accountability for crimes committed during electoral violence in Kenya.

On October 17, the Legal Officer for the Kenya chapter of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Stella Ndirangu, told Sudan Tribune that her group would seek court action to force the government to apprehend Al-Bashir should he attends the IGAD summit.

(ST)

10 Comments

  • mayom maboung marek
    mayom maboung marek

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    waw!! that is that the situation people are in. is Adis. the safe heaven.

    Reply
  • biarawieu
    biarawieu

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    no hiding one day they gonna catch you on the street, al-bashir in worst situation.

    Reply
  • DASODIKO
    DASODIKO

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    Haa, Haaaa, the guy you paid him to facilitate your visit to Kenya is in fraying pan? Yesterday in Kenyan Parliament, swet was runing from his head to his ass!! I don;t know if Addis is a right palce or not, but on this regard I hail the role of that African President ( YM) who refused to be in Sudan.

    Reply
  • David Glenn
    David Glenn

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    Ethiopia refused to surrender it’s independence and sovergeinity to Okampo,Kenya has renounced it’s responsibility as Chairman of IGAD.

    Reply
  • Luke Chuol
    Luke Chuol

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    Then, Why is ICC is only targetting the Continent of Africa? There is a war every where in the World but none of those Country have an arrest warning for any.. This is an indirect colony or punishment to Africa in my opinion. Look at the situation in North Korea and Iran, How it has been carefully handled!! Also Sri Lanka and many more. The so Call ICC is just an agent to Africa for sure. But my position about Bashir may be difference, it is ok to being look after but what I am getting at right now is that it will not end there. Kenya and Rwunda plus Uganda are next and dont forget DRC too think about this please before beating your drum about ICC

    Reply
  • Kamula
    Kamula

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!1 for how long shall Bashir keep Dodging the ICC? Ma let Him Surrender to Ochampo.

    Reply
  • unity state boy
    unity state boy

    IGAD summit moved from Kenya as ICC demands arrest of Sudan’s Bashir
    Bashir is virus in Africa if those of ICC did NOT take him to the court he will be affect many countries in Africa not Sudan alone.

    unitystatewaayee

    Reply
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