Darfur IPDs hand over new evidence to ICC visiting prosecutor
August 22, 2022 (ZALINGEI) – A group of displaced people on Monday handed over to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Khan, what they described as new evidence of violations committed by the regime of the ousted President Omer al-Bashir.
A high-level ICC delegation headed by Khan is visiting Sudan for the second time to hold meetings with Sudanese officials over bilateral cooperation for the trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abdel-Rahman aka Kushyab, and the handover of the wanted former officials including al-Bashir.
Also, the delegation met officials and displaced people in South and Central Darfur states before returning to Khartoum for further meetings with the government.
During a visit to the Central Darfur state on Monday, he inspected the situation in the Hasahisa and Hamidiya camps in Zalingei, two of the largest camps housing thousands of people.
Yagoub Foraowi General Coordinator of Darfur IDPs told Sudan Tribune that the prosecutor had already paid a visit to Kalma camp in South Darfur where he met with the war-affected civilians.
“The representatives of the victims met the prosecutor in Kalma camp for three hours and gave him evidence related to the crime committed during the al-Bashir regime and after his fall,” Foraowi told Sudan Tribune.
He did not elaborate on the nature of this evidence. However, he pointed out that the displaced people welcomed the visit and renewed calls for accountability of the perpetrators of the war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The coordinator said that the IDPs stressed the need to hand over former Sudanese officials accused of war crimes, including al-Bashir.
“Also, they briefed him on the violations committed against civilians in South and West Darfur states during the past three years.
Foraowi expressed doubts over the seriousness of the coup leaders in truly handing over the ICC-wanted former officials.
“These people are dishonest and cover up criminals, it has been three years since the fall of al-Bashir and so far there has been no progress in this file. We believe that everyone who refuses to hand over criminals is one of them,” he said.
The civilian-led government after the revolution signed two cooperation agreements with the ICC over Darfur crimes. Also, the Sudanese authorities agreed to open an office for the war crimes court and to facilitate the activities of its investigators.
After the coup, an ICC delegation was in Khartoum in December 2021 to discuss cooperation and prepare for Khan’s second visit to Sudan. His first visit was in August last year.
His trial opened on April 5, 2022, and continues currently. The court is scheduled to resume its sessions on August 25.
Kushyab is accused of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004.
(ST)