Sudan revokes visa of US special envoy before reversing course
October 4, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The Sudanese government revoked the visa of US special envoy Richard Williamson, a pro- Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) newspaper reported today.
However Khartoum sent a letter to Williamson saying that he “is not welcome to visit at the present time”.
The letter did not specify reasons for the decision however the US state department official said that Williamson’s stance on deferring the indictment of Sudan president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a meeting between Sudan 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Williamson last week, Sudan demanded Washington’s help to invoke Article 16 which allows the UN Security Council (UNSC) to suspend the ICC prosecutions in any case for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.
But Taha was told that US will not allow the deferral and warned Khartoum no to interfere with international justice, the State department official said.
After pressure from Washington Khartoum reversed its decision on Williamson’s visa the next day, he added.
The UK and French government appeared to be willing to support the suspension but the US took an unusual tough stance saying that it will veto any such resolution.
Last month Williamson made the position public at a hearing of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
“If asked—if forced to vote today—the United States, even if it was 191 countries against one, would veto an Article 16 [resolution],” Ambassador Richard Williamson said.
The newspaper said that the US envoy will fly to Libya before arriving in Khartoum tomorrow. It is not clear what his agenda will be given the pending US presidential elections and preparations for transition into a new administration in Washington.
Williamson will also visit Paris for talks with French officials.
In the last few months Khartoum and Washington started a high level dialogue that focused on normalization for ties between the two countries in return for concessions from Khartoum on Darfur crisis and implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
However the talks collapsed last June in Khartoum over the dispute between North and South Sudan over the oil rich region of Abyei and Williamson’s failure to bridge differences between two sides.
Even though the issue was resolved later on, normalization talks never resumed.
Later the top US official on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, said it was unlikely that talks about normalizing relations with the United States would resume before the U.S. elections in November.
The Chicago Tribune reported last month that Bush administration officials have been approaching the normalization issue with caution, fearing that further public backlash might hurt Republican candidate John McCain’s campaign. They’ve urged Sudanese officials to make bold gestures and demonstrate a commitment to reform so that any deal will be acceptable to the American public and Congress.
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Akol Liai Mager
Sudan revokes visa of US special envoy before reversing course
Despite the exit of the two powerful Bush aids one at Defense top position and another from State Department, Mr Bush remain the same. He is the same Bush who said in his first State of Union address after 9/11 I qout; “You have one choice, either you are with us or with the terrorists”
Mr Ali Osman Mohd Taha should understand this simple case that “people do not change in USA” as it is the case in northern Sudan particularly NIF. 2 Osmans Ali and Mustafa, you were clever enough to avoid regime change in Sudan by selling few of your Islamic Movement members to USA, but I am afraid this time, because Darfur case is more stronger than Mr Bush and you need to be careful. Treating Darfur Issue with wisdom will earn you behind bars, but at least alive and non of that will be Saddam scenario.
To my felow readers, look at other statements made by Sudan envoy to EU elsewhere in thi web and answer this question if you like: Are African leaders realy care about their or their themselves?