Sudan protects terrorists
By Kimberly Hollingsworth*
December 15, 2014 – Sudan used to be the heart of Africa; now, Sudan is the heart of international terrorist organizations. Sudan is the hub for training extremists. Sudan is the hiding place for terrorists.
We have civilians in IDP camps that have to leave when Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), wants a place to sleep in Sudan. We have the Government of Sudan negotiating with Nigeria before handing over former Nigerian soldier Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche who was suspected of being a ringleader of Boko Haram: the evil-mind that planned the bombs at a busy bus station – killing over 75 people and injuring 100s of others on 15 April 2014.
We know that even Osama bin Laden liked to hide in Sudan.
We know about the Iranian ships that dock at Port Sudan and the tours given of the Iranian military bases. We know that Sudan stockpiles missiles from and for Hamas. We’ve felt the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence as Bashir started his scorch the earth campaign in Darfur.
We’ve seen the videos of Sudanese cleric calling for attacks in support of ISIS.
When the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court for investigation, almost 10 years ago, the UNSC failed to implement a plan of enforcement for the issued warrants. States Parties to the Rome Statute have failed in their obligation to cooperate with the ICC; and the ICC has failed to implement justice for the people still suffering in Sudan.
Prosector Fatou Bensouda’s statement of hibernation on 12 December 2014, aimed at the UNSC, was made without consideration to Bashir’s victims. We miss Ocampo, at least he tried.
This year, while leaders around the world spoke about past genocides and their regrets, no one spoke about Sudan. Darfur is still happening today.
We hold the State Parties accountable for the lives lost in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and the Blue Nile State. You’ve had years to arrest him and he’s had years to kill more of his own civilians.
Recently, Bashir was told that the IDP camps prove there is no peace in Darfur: his solution – send his security forces to make the IDPs leave. In September, after IDPs bravely demonstrated and asked Bashir to stop the killings, he sent the Janjaweed (now, re-named the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)) to kill more of the elderly, to rape more women and girls, to burn more huts and throw more children into the fires to die.
The Government of Sudan protects international terrorists and kills their own civilians. This is a fact. The only logical explanation for the lack of international intervention is security: States Parties would rather know where their enemies gather.
Sudan is the portal for extremists and the international community places self-interest above the lives of “other” civilians. We are paying a terrible price.
* Kimberly Hollingsworth is the founder of Humanity Is Us. She can be reached at [email protected]