BREAKING NEWS: Bashir arrest probable in Kampala

The Sudanese President, Omar al Bashir could face arrest in Kampala if he accepts an invitation to attend the 2009 Smart Partnership Dialogue due to begin on July 27. The Minister for International Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, told the press that Uganda is still committed to their obligations under the Rome Statute and the arrest of Bashir couldn’t be ruled out.

Oryem addressed the press with the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who has been in the country since Saturday on a consultation with government regarding the arrest warrants of Lords Resistance Army leaders and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

“Already the warrant against Bashir is deposited in the office of the Solicitor General here and even when Bashir arrives in Uganda then it is up to Kayihura (Inspector General of Police) to take action,” said Oryem, “so until Bashir is here I cannot tell you whether he’s going to be arrested or not. On the hand he’s not a chicken thief to start arresting him in unceremonial manner so let’s wait for Bashir to arrive here and we see what action will be taken by the government of Uganda.”

Ocampo reminded the government that the obligation for Uganda to arrest President Bashir is a legal but not a political decision. He said Uganda must tell Bashir of the likely arrest just like South Africa did inform him when he was invited to President Jacob Zuma’s inauguration. Bashir declined to attend the ceremony in South Africa.

If Bashir is to be arrested Uganda would have to weigh the political cost. This month at the end of the African Union summit in Libya member states said they would not cooperate in the arrest and surrender of Sudan's president on war crimes charges.

Should Bashir come to Kampala and leave a free a man, many Ugandans would wonder how the government can let him go, knowing his long time support to LRA rebels who have been accused of mass killings, abductions and rape in northern Uganda, South Sudan and lately eastern DR Congo and Central African Republic. Although Bashir’s ICC indictments are a direct result of his alleged role in the Darfur conflict, accusation of his support to the LRA played a big role in the build-up to the charges.

Post a comment

Bookmark

Email this

Comments (4) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

m7
written by moses, July 13, 2009

why not arrest m7 for supporting spla, rpf all rebel groups in congo and is wars that left many ugandans ****ed?

Mr
written by Edirisa Wachemba, July 13, 2009

:X Of course, Museveni is a business i hope the same court does not issue, an arrest warrant for him too.

Because, i am sure someone will surely give him away. Cheers

communications Officer
written by Oscar Sang, July 14, 2009

I am eagerly waiting to see if Museveni will live up to this awkward threat with full backing of his dead conscience! However, Bashir is not a holy man either; neither is Moreno-Ocampo, an acquitted rapist. On the same note the Kenyans in the waiting list have so panicked to the extent that one would think they will make raw fodder for Ocampo. Africans must shape up, build strong institutions and fight the Western norm that ULTIMATE POWER RESTS IN THE YONDER!