Sudanese president headed to Libya, HRW says visit raises questions
January 6, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir is flying to Tripoli on Saturday in his first visit since the fall of the Libyan regime led by late leader Muammar Gaddafi, diplomatic sources in Khartoum told Sudan Tribune.
Bashir is the first head of state to be charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since its establishment in 2002. He faces ten counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide he allegedly masterminded in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.
Libya is not a member of The Hague-based court but the National Transitional Council (NTC), which represented the anti-regime forces has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to refer the situation there to the ICC shortly after the uprisings against Gaddafi broke out earlier this year.
The UNSC unanimously adopted a resolution last February asking the ICC to investigate possible war crimes committed since the uprising.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and the ex-spy chief Abdullah al-Sanoosi with crimes against humanity. The Libyan leader was killed by NTC fighters along with his son Mo’tassim after an assault on his hometown of Sirte last October.
Saif al-Islam was captured by local rebels near the borders with Niger last November but they have refused to hand him over to Tripoli’s central authority nor the ICC.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) have expressed concern over Bashir’s trip to Libya.
“Following the end of decades of brutal rule in Libya, it is disturbing if Tripoli hosts a head of state on the run from international arrest warrants for grave human rights violations,” said Richard Dicker, international justice director at HRW.
“Welcoming al-Bashir — a suspected war criminal sought by the ICC — raises questions about the NTC’s stated commitment to human rights and the rule of law”, he added.
Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has revealed last year that his government assisted the NTC in their battles against Gaddafi by providing weapons and logistics.
He said that this was in retaliation to Gaddafi’s support of Darfur rebels who have been fighting the Sudanese army since 2003.
Libyan officials have confirmed the support they received from Khartoum and the NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel-Jalil paid a visit to Khartoum in November.
(ST)