Rights advocate calls on Sudan to hand over former president al-Bashir, two others to ICC over Darfur crimes

11 Juin 2020

Nairobi, Kenya, June 11 (Infosplusgabon) - Human rights advocate Amnesty International has renewed its demand to the Sudanese authorities to hand over former President Omar al-Bashir and the two other suspects of human rights abuses in Darfur, Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face justice.

The request of Amnesty International follows the surrender of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman “Ali Kushayb” to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 9 June after 13 years of evading justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur.

In a statement, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena said: “The arrest of Ali Kushayb is a positive step towards justice for the victims of the crimes he allegedly committed in Darfur. The Sudanese authorities should build on this momentum by handing over former President Omar al-Bashir and the two other suspects, Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, to also answer allegations against them at the ICC."

It said it is only when those who have grossly abused power in the past are held to account for their crimes that a future in which human rights in the country be fully realised.

"We stand in solidarity with the people of Darfur in demanding truth, justice and reparations no matter how long it takes or how hard those responsible try to evade the law,” Muchena said.

Ali Kushayb allegedly recruited and commanded thousands of Janjaweed militias between August 2003 and March 2004, who committed heinous human rights violations.

On 27 April 2007 the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for him to face 22 counts of crimes against humanity and 28 counts of war crimes.

The ICC also issued arrest warrants for Ahmad Harun in 2007, against Omar al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010, and against Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein in 2012 for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur committed since 2003.

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