ICC prosecutor urges Sudan to hand over those accused of genocide

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has said that victims of war crimes and genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan want those accused to be handed over and brought to court. The remarks come after Bensouda visited the Darfur region earlier this week.

Former president, Omar al-Bashir, is on top of the list of those accused of committing war crimes. Bensouda said that it was clear “that the victims of these crimes also want him [to face] the ICC [...] In any discussion that is going to take place, that issue cannot be disregarded." Authorities in Sudan have been reluctant to hand over al-Bashir and would rather have him put on trail in Sudanese courts. 

Bensouda also urged Sudan to hand over Ahmed Haroun who was charged by the ICC due to his involvement with events in Darfur. She said that after constructive talks with the Sudanese authorities, there was no objection to Haroun's transfer to the Hague. Both Haroun and al-Bashir are in a civilian-run prison in Sudan and sending them to trial in the Hague has long been a subject of domestic political debate. 

"If Sudan is ... saying that they want to try Omar Al Bashir here in Sudan, they also have to demonstrate concretely that this is possible," Ms Bensouda said, without elaborating.

Bensouda's visit is a landmark event, and is the first visit by an ICC prosecutor to Darfur since the United Nations asked the ICC to investigate the conflict there 16 years ago. The UN says 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million were displaced in the conflict that started in 2003. 

 

source: commonspace.eu with various sources. 
photo: ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, during an interactive session with the leaders of the refugee camps in South Darfur. (Twitter: @IntlCrimCourt). 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday 24 July but major disagreements remain over trade and the war in Ukraine.  The two sides issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a long-standing plea from European leaders that is likely to fall once again on deaf ears.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday 24 July but major disagreements remain over trade and the war in Ukraine.  The two sides issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a long-standing plea from European leaders that is likely to fall once again on deaf ears.