Sudanese president skips TICAD meeting in Kenya

August 26, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir did not travel to to Nairobi, Kenya to participate in the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and instead dispatched First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih.

TICAD was launched in 1993 by the Japanese government to promote Africa’s development, peace and security, through the strengthening of relations in multilateral cooperation and partnership, particularly with the country.

The official news agency (SUNA) said that Salih has arrived in Nairobi on Friday evening to take part in the meeting without indicating reasons that prevented al-Bashir’s participation in the summit.

Kenya is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which in 2009 and 2010 issued two arrest warrants for al-Bashir on ten counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide he allegedly committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

Despite the country’s legal obligation under the ICC’s statute, it chose to receive al-Bashir in August 2010 without arresting him, prompting the ICJ to move the issue to the High Court.

According to SUNA, Salih was accompanied by the Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, Minister of International Cooperation Kamal Hassan Ali, Health Minister Bahar Idris Abu Garda and State Minister of Finance Abdel-Rahman Dirar.

TICAD meeting, which will be held from 27 to 28 August in Nairobi, would be attended by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinz? Abe.

The summit will focus on the theme: “Advancing Africa’s Sustainable Development Agenda – TICAD Partnership for Prosperity.

Over 6,000 participants are expected to participate in the summit, including a number of African Heads of State and Government, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations, the private sector and civil society, among others.

(ST)