Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
October 14, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The Ugandan government disclosed today that it has invited Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to Kampala for a special African Union (AU) summit on refugees to be held next week.
The Kampala based New Vision news portal quoted Ugandan president Yoweri Musievini as telling reporters that Bashir was invited in his capacity as an African head of state.
Technically, Uganda has a legal obligation to arrest the Sudanese president who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing him of masterminding widespread killings in Darfur.
The AU summit in Libya last July has adopted a resolution to halt any cooperation of African states that are ICC states in arresting Bashir which would include Uganda.
However, few weeks after the summit wrapped up Kampala asked Khartoum to dispatch another official to attend the Global 2009 Smart Partnership Dialogue conference for which he was invited.
Ugandan officials at the time gave conflicting positions on whether they would arrest Bashir but observers have said it was “well calculated’ on the part of Kampala.
However, Khartoum was angered by the incident and demanded that the Ugandan official who blew the first whistle on arresting Bashir be sacked.
Musievini suggested to reporters that Bashir will be safe from arrest in the events he accepts the invitation noting that he called on Darfur warring parties in the past to convene in his country for talks.
“The hub means a neutral zone in which we give safe conduit to the belligerents to meet and talk. We cannot turn around and say ‘you are wanted by the ICC’ and we grab you,” he said.
He reaffirmed his position that his government is awaiting the disclosure of a report by the AU Panel on Darfur (AUPD) later this month for a position on the status of Bashir.
The panel was formed by the pan-African body to look into ways to balance peace and accountability in Darfur. However, it is not conducting a criminal investigation in the region.
“Our position in the African security committee was that let us not condemn or condone Bashir” Musievini said.
“We said let us do our own investigations. That’s how former South African President Thabo Mbeki [chair of AUPD] was invited to do further research to enable us take our own position,” he added.
Musievini’s vague statements on the ICC warrant reflects the dilemma his government is in. On the one hand Uganda has a case at the Hague tribunal relating to the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) who are wanted by the court and ignoring Bashir’s warrant would reflect badly on asking neighboring countries to apprehend the notorious leaders of the insurgency.
Moreover, Uganda is currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Sudan state media made no mention of the invitation or any plans by Bashir to visit Uganda.
(ST)
oshay
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
Is Museveni drunk, does he think Bashir will trust him? He’ll just send his cowboy kiir instead.
J.James
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
Hi all
Museveni need to be arrested also for changing Ugandan constitution and replacing it with his own for him to stay in power. That is also terrible international and national crime.
Therefore, I hate that dumb animal for the disappearing of Dr. Garang, and as result he should not try to stick his ugly head into Sudan affairs again.
Let Omar be arrested somewhere else not Uganda because this time Uganda will be converted into sea if not ocean.
God bless.
BUSTA 2
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
Museveni is just a rat to Bashir!!!
Museveni cannot arrest Bashir because if does so that will make the end to Uganda and this will be the time for the long range weapon in Africa to be put in use.
If Bashir doesn’t fear ICC what about the small rat Museveni leave alone Kiir who is like HIV virus which can be seen with the help of Microscope!!!!
Brother in Christ,
Busta 2
ramiran
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
let Omer go there to face the pain of death as he uses to kill people like fish in his reign ,any body who back Bashir let him be a wife of Omer from now onward,
mamer kuot
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
Bashir must bear in mind that Uganda government has an obligation to arrest president Al-Bashir. please watch out you are going to be handed over to ICC For your crimes you had committed in Darfur.
mamer
thieleling
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
The France-based International Police, the Interpol would help Museveni to arrest Bashier in Kampala and transfer him to the ICC’s Hague. The International Commission of Jurists suppose to condemn Museveni’s killing of John Garang & trying to score some international political credits for arresting Bashier in Kampala. What a scumbag, political-prostitute?
AUGUSTINO DENG
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
By the way, did Yoweri Museveni, informed Salva Kiir Mayardit that Omar Bashir is invited to attend an AU Summit? I wish Salva Kiir Mayardit should sent another letter again warning Ugandan President about an arrestment of Omar Bashir. Omar Bashir seems to be a pillar as some others people advocated him from facing an inevitable life situation. I will never stand behind Omar Bashir until the end of my life. Omar Bashir need to be convicted and faced a jeopardy life as he use it to the Southern Sudanese people.
Second, in the midst of 1990 to 1997, Omar Bashir used to Hang people as a death punishment. As a matter of fact, those who are hanged to death are all Southern Sudanese people except few of them are from Arabs. Today, if what so call “what come around goes around” emerged as an example, then why we don’t do it in that way instead of kneeling behind him all the times? I will see what kind of prosperity do all Southern Sudanese people needs as a concern to their freedom in which they were been longing for many years in war.
1-1
Uganda invites Sudanese president to AU summit
Congratulation M7 K to invited sudan president the so call the Dam Basir to attend the AU summit in uganda in order to know his concern, infact your invitation was right but it will be 1% percennt for Bashir to attend the summit that shall take place in uganda because he always undermine all the activities that usually occured in Africa (as he called him the king Africa)therefore due to failure will proves the crimes that he committed in sudan generally. By 1-1 Adoolniip de grate