NGO slams appointment of Sudanese general to lead Syria crime probe

December 23, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – An international advocacy group has joined a chorus of critics expressing rejection to the appointment of a Sudanese general as head of the Arab League’s observer missions to Syria, citing his alleged involvement in crimes committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

Lieutenant-General Mohamed Ahmad Mustafa al-Dabi was named on 20 December to head an Arab League’s observer mission tasked to probe war crimes and crimes and against humanity allegedly committed in Syria by the government of President Bashar Al-Assad against protestors seeking to end his rule.

According to the Enough Project, a US-based rights watchdog, the appointment of Al-Dabi was “perplexing” given “his record of turning a blind eye to human rights crimes, or worse”

The group’s Sudan analyst Omer Ismail said that alleged war crimes were committed on Al-Dabi’s watch when he was serving as former head of Military Intelligence.

“Instead of heading a team entrusted with a probe of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by Syria, the general should be investigated by the ICC [International Criminal Court] for evidence of similar crimes in Sudan,” Ismail said.

Al-Dabi was a director of Sudan’s military intelligence during the early years of the Salvation Regime of president Al-Bashir. He was later appointed as head of foreign intelligence before he returned in 1996 to the military as the deputy chief of General Staff.

The widely unknown general served between 2000 and 2004 as an ambassador to Qatar which is believed to have played a role in selecting him to the mission. He held several positions related to Darfur region, including as a presidential advisor on Darfur during the pinnacle of the conflict in 2004.

Criticism of Al-Dabi’s appointment also came from Syrian opposition activists who cited close ties between the Sudanese government and the Syrian regime as well as Khartoum’s track record of using its national security officers to target activists.

Khartoum has been supportive of Syrian regime led by president Bashar al-Assad throughout the crackdown but had a change of heart and approved Arab league sanctions on Damascus last month.

The United Nations has said more than 5,000 people have been killed in Syria since anti-Assad protests broke out in March.

(ST)