NIGERIA IN CONTROVERSY OVER SUDAN’S AL-BASHIR
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir reviews the guard of honour as he arrives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , Abuja, yesterday to take part in a African Union summit about HIV, TB and malaria.
Al-Bashir has been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. The following year, the court issued an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.
“Nigeria has the shameful distinction of being the first West African country to welcome the ICC fugitive”, Elise Keppler, Associate Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch said. She said in a statement that Bashir’s visit to Nigeria was in stark contrast to the leadership of South Africa, Malawi, and other African states who said the Sudanese leader would be arrested or avoided his visits.
The Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court (NCICC) also said in a statement by Chinonye Obiagwu and Theodora Oby Nwankwo that as a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Nigeria has the obligation to support the court by arresting Al Bashir if he visits Nigeria or cancel the visit. “The members of Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court urge Nigeria to stand with the victims of the Darfur conflict, and the rule of law and arrest ICC fugitive Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir. The victims of the conflict in Darfur have suffered without justice for more than a decade. Nigeria should not ignore their right to justice”, the statement said.
The coalition dismissed argument that Nigeria could welcome Al-Bashir because of an AU decision calling for non-cooperation on his arrest, saying AU decisions have no bearing on Nigeria’s obligations as an ICC member. It said ICC states parties should avoid any conflict in obligations by at a minimum barring entry to Bashir.
Very few ICC states have allowed Bashir on their territory. Chad and Djibouti are essentially the only ones. Kenya and Malawi each also allowed one visit but avoided subsequent visits after diplomatic and public outcries.
There have been repeated calls for African governments to show greater support for justice for victims. The ICC investigation in Darfur began in June 2005 after being referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council, which had determined the conflict there a threat to international peace and security. However, the Council has subsequently failed to ensure the cooperation necessary for ICC prosecutions to take place. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri had told the media that over 30 African heads of state would be participating in the international conference.
“Nigeria has the shameful distinction of being the first West African country to welcome the ICC fugitive”, Elise Keppler, Associate Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch said. She said in a statement that Bashir’s visit to Nigeria was in stark contrast to the leadership of South Africa, Malawi, and other African states who said the Sudanese leader would be arrested or avoided his visits.
The Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court (NCICC) also said in a statement by Chinonye Obiagwu and Theodora Oby Nwankwo that as a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Nigeria has the obligation to support the court by arresting Al Bashir if he visits Nigeria or cancel the visit. “The members of Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court urge Nigeria to stand with the victims of the Darfur conflict, and the rule of law and arrest ICC fugitive Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir. The victims of the conflict in Darfur have suffered without justice for more than a decade. Nigeria should not ignore their right to justice”, the statement said.
The coalition dismissed argument that Nigeria could welcome Al-Bashir because of an AU decision calling for non-cooperation on his arrest, saying AU decisions have no bearing on Nigeria’s obligations as an ICC member. It said ICC states parties should avoid any conflict in obligations by at a minimum barring entry to Bashir.
Very few ICC states have allowed Bashir on their territory. Chad and Djibouti are essentially the only ones. Kenya and Malawi each also allowed one visit but avoided subsequent visits after diplomatic and public outcries.
There have been repeated calls for African governments to show greater support for justice for victims. The ICC investigation in Darfur began in June 2005 after being referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council, which had determined the conflict there a threat to international peace and security. However, the Council has subsequently failed to ensure the cooperation necessary for ICC prosecutions to take place. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri had told the media that over 30 African heads of state would be participating in the international conference.
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