April 25, 2009
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir had paid a visit to Ethiopia this week amidst his indictment on charges of war crime in Darfur despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Ethiopia once again reaffirmed its decision to continue relations as close ally of Sudan.
Al-Bashir was welcomed by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and many other African diplomats at Bole international airport but no Western diplomat or representative showed up.
The Ethiopian government hosted a state dinner in honor of al-Bashir on Tuesday evening. Invited US and many European diplomats boycotted the dinner party in protest against al-Bashir whose arrest is sought by the ICC over alleged human rights abuse in Darfur.
Al-Bashir, who was in a relaxed and showed a cheery face said that during a press conference indictment for him is positive because the African Union and the Arab League were earlier rejected the indictment. “We have found a very strong stance from regional organizations such as the Arab League and the African Union.”
The African Union, which is based in Ethiopia, has said al-Bashir’s arrest would dangerously imperil the fragile peace process in Sudan and has asked the U.N. to defer the warrant for one year.
Prime Minister Meles said that Ethiopia would continue to treat Sudan as an ally and welcome its leader to Ethiopia. Relations have not been affected and Sudan is a close neighbor, he added.
Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Ethiopia remains convinced that the arrest warrant issued by the ICC would not serve justice nor promotes peace and stability in the Sudan and the sub-region.
“The value of having an organization in the interest of Africa has been demonstrated in connection with the collective position taken against the unfair and unjust measure taken by the ICC, ” Seyoum said.
The measure the ICC took in issuing arrest warrant over Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir violates to the sovereignty of the country, he said, adding that Ethiopia’s objection over ICC’s decision is a reflection of the close relations the two countries are enjoying for long years.
Since the ICC issued the arrest warrant on March 4, al-Bashir has visited Eritrea, Egypt and Libya, attended an Arab League summit in Qatar and performed a pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest city, Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. In March, the Arab League formally rejected the charges against al-Bashir.
Many African countries have said they will not arrest al-Bashir. While al-Bashir appears to have a safe haven in Africa and Arab countries, other nations have supported the arrest warrant.
The U.S., Britain and France have strongly opposed any deferral of the warrant for his arrest. President Barack Obama in March denounced the “genocide” in Darfur. But the U.S. has not recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction, citing fears that Americans would be unfairly prosecuted for political reasons.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said that al-Bashir should be arrested once he leaves Sudanese airspace and that prosecutors are monitoring al-Bashir’s movements. However, the Hague-based court has no police force to execute the warrant.
Al-Bashir’s government has been battling rebels in Darfur region since 2003. UN figures show that about 300,000 people have died in fighting and 2.7 million displaced in the conflict. But the Sudanese government says the number is exaggerated.
One Comment
Though I do not have a firm understanding of the complex intricacies of the relationship between Sudanese leader al-Bashir and Ethiopian PM Zenawi, I have a difficult time grasping the enormity of the human suffering in Sudan.
I have so many questions I would like to ask of President al-Bashir given several contacts I have with humanitarian aid groups here in the States; many of which were recently expelled by al-Bashir.