Sudan plans to extradite Al-Bashir to criminal court

For years, Al-Bashir seemed untouchable. As Sudan's president, he was stuck in the saddle, the world criminal court could not prosecute him for alleged crimes in Darfur. But the coup changed everything - it may have to appear in court in The Hague soon.

Khartoum / Juba (dpa) - Sudan's government has agreed with rebels that extradited President Omar al-Bashir will be extradited to the International Criminal Court.

A spokesman for the government of Sudan said it would extradite those charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He gave no further details. A spokeswoman for the ICC has not yet been able to confirm the planned delivery.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010. The court accuses him of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in the 2003 Darfur conflict. At that time, government troops and the allied Janjaweed militia acted brutally against ethnic groups in the western province. It is estimated that around 300,000 people died. In addition to Al-Bashir, the court is looking for additional Sudanese people with an arrest warrant.

Representatives of the government of Sudan and rebel groups from Darfur are currently meeting for peace talks in Juba, the capital of neighboring South Sudan. Justice can only be achieved if the wounds heal, said Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a member of the Sovereign Council, the body that temporarily governs Sudan with a cabinet. Those against whom the ICC issued warrants should appear in court, he said. Since the fall of Al-Bashir in April 2019, the government has been holding talks with a number of rebel groups.

Al-Bashir ruled the country in northeastern Africa with rough hand for around 30 years. His term in office is mainly associated with Darfur and the conflicts with rebels in the south that led to the separation of South Sudan in 2011. Under pressure from months of mass protests, Al-Bashir was then deposed by the military in April last year. As a result, the army and the opposition civil movement struggled for months to form a transitional government. Finally, they agreed on a common government that should pave the way for free elections in just under three years.

Al-Bashir was arrested after the coup. The 76-year-old has already been sentenced to two years in prison in Khartoum, among other things, for corruption, and in a separate trial he is accused of inciting violence against demonstrators and complicity in the killing of protesters.

Sudan, with around 42 million inhabitants, is a conservative Islamic country of Sunni origin. For the EU, transit country Sudan is a partner in limiting migration to the Mediterranean.

ICC to Al-Bashir