Sudan seeking to revoke immunities of individuals in connection with Darfur crimes

May 1, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ministry of justice announced that the special prosecutor for Darfur crimes initiated measures to lift immunity of some individuals suspected of involvement in crimes in Darfur.

Last June, the justice minister appointed Yasir Ahmed Mohamed as new special prosecutor for Darfur crimes. He is the third to be appointed in the position after his two predecessors called it quits.

Khartoum created this position in 2003 to prove to the international community its seriousness in trying the perpetrators of crimes allegedly committed in the course of the Sudanese government’s war against armed rebels in western Sudan.

However, the previous three prosecutors who occupied the position failed to bring charges against any individual despite credible reports of atrocities committed during the zenith of the conflict in 2003 and 2004.

Abdel-Dayem Zumrawi, the second special prosecutor who also held the post of justice ministry undersecretary, has reportedly complained about the decision to grant judicial immunity to some of the individuals investigated.

The minister of justice Mohamed Bushara Dousa, who was responding to a request for information by the parliamentary subcommittee on Legislation, Justice, and Human Rights on the situation of human rights in 2012 accused the United States, Canada and the European Union (EU) of inciting the international public opinion against the Sudanese government by calling for placing Sudan under Chapter IV of the International Council for Human Rights.

Chapter IV of the International Council for Human Rights deals with states which have the most severe human rights violations records.

Dousa said he expects a delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to arrive in Sudan soon despite the fact that Sudanese government is still considering its request for visit.

The minister stressed that the government is determined to observe human rights and enforce international law, saying that they embarked on procedures for lifting immunity of a number of individuals accused of committing “famous” crimes in Darfur, such as the events which took place at Gireida, Shangil Tobai, Kaas, Buram, Shataya, Kailick, Ghabat Hamada, and Dar Al- Salam.

(ST)