South Africa president arrives in Sudan for talks
September 15, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Khartoum today and immediately held talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
Mbeki is one of the first African leaders to criticize the ICC move to indict Al-Bashir despite his country’s membership in the Hague based court.
The South African leader called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to invoke Article 16 of the Rome Statute which allows the council to suspend the ICC prosecutions in any case for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.
Libya and South Africa sought to force a suspension in the UNAMID resolution but failed to get the required number of votes and instead accepted a watered down paragraph taking note of the AU concern on the ICC move to seek an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.
Sudan foreign minister told SUNA that that South Africa as a leading country regionally can “play an active role” in supporting Sudan.
Mbeki is also scheduled to meet the First Vice president Salva Kiir Mayadrit to discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with him.
(ST)
Dinka Bush
South Africa president arrives in Sudan for talks
Very bad of you Mbeki, you cannot do that because SA had one time fought for its people as do Darfur and if ICC has indicted Al Bashir for his failures in leadership, you cannot criticize ICC move at all. It will bring shame to the entire Africa, please distant yourself from this man.
Call yourself Al Mbeki if you want to befriend Al Bashir but never utter a word that support him. His NCP is an outgoing regime which does not even expect support from its Arab friends.
Remain Clean Mr. Mbeki