The delegation by International Criminal Court [ICC] is in Khartoum Sudan to discuss the arrest warrants imposed on former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in which he allegedly masterminded conflicts in western region of Darfur.
Embattled Al-Bashir is on the ICC wanted list on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, acts committed in a conflict that began in 2003. Over 300,000 people are estimated to have lost lives during the conflicts.
Earlier on, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok released said in a document that the delegation led by Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, would be arriving on Saturday to discuss cooperation between the International Criminal Court and Sudan regarding the accused, against whom the court has issued arrest warrants.
Delegates are expected to meet senior Sudanese officials to discuss on the ICC-Sudan corporation during their stay in the country until October 21.
In 2009, the ICC accused Bashir in of masterminding atrocities in his campaign which resulted into extra judicial killings in the Darfur region, charges he has since denied.
Bashir who was ousted by the military in April 2019 following months – long protests by the citizens is being accused with two others including Ahmed Haroun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein – who are also in detention in Khartoum.
Ali Kushayb, the head of the Popular Defence Forces accused of carrying out some of the worst atrocities in Darfur, surrendered to the ICC and is now in custody while Abdallah Banda, a rebel leader, fifth co accused suspect wanted by the ICC remain at large.
In December, he (Bashir) was convicted and is currently facing trials on corruption charges in Khartoum for the 1989 coup that brought him to power. If guilty proven, Bashir and 27 other co-accused could face the death penalty.
Earlier this month, government signed a peace deal in which they reached a decision to set up a special court [Hybrid Court] for crimes in Darfur which would try Bashir of the similar charges. Surprisingly, the country’s transitional government has revealed Bashir would stand trial before the ICC.
