Bashir invited to Asia-Africa summit in Indonesia next month

March 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir received an invitation to participate in the Asia-Africa summit which will take place in Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta next month.

The summit which will host 109 leaders, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1955 Asia Africa Conference, as well as the 10th anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP), Jakarta Post newspaper said.

Sudan’s state minister for foreign affairs Obeildalla Mohamed Obeildalla was handed the invite at a meeting with the ambassador of Indonesia to Khartoum Burhanuddin Badr Zaman, state media reported.

Zaman also handed him an invitation to the foreign minister Ali Karti from his Indonesian counterpart to take part in the summit.

The report did not say whether Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide he allegedly masterminded in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. will participate in the summit.

Indonesia is not a member of the ICC and is therefore under no obligation to apprehend Bashir.

Bashir cancelled a planned appearance in Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia in 2011 after controversy erupted there over his possible attendance.

A Malaysian official at the time said that if Bashir decided to fulfil the invitation it can be an “embarrassment” to Malaysia.

(ST)