CAIRO: Sudanese President Omar Al-Beshir expelled 10 aid organizations in the wake of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Wednesday, which he labeled a “conspiracy.
“This is an attempt to get at Sudan, he told a cabinet meeting Thursday, labeling the United Nations, the ICC and other organizations “tools of the new colonialism.
After the warrant was issued Monday, Al-Beshir ordered the expulsion of 10 aid groups in Darfur, including Oxfam, Save the Children and CARE.
“These organizations are definitely a lifeline, so putting a halt on their activities directly affects the people of Darfur, said journalist Lina Atallah who covered the Darfur crisis for a year and a half.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it a “serious setback to lifesaving operations in Darfur.
This is the first arrest warrant issued against a sitting head of state. Egypt has voiced its concern over the court’s decision and is attempting to suspend the warrant for at least one year.
“The court’s decision will hijack the potential peace deal in Darfur as now the rebel groups do not need to commit to it. It will also affect the Sudanese democratic process because of the internationally monitored elections that are due to be held this year, said Sudan expert Hani Raslan from Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
“It might very well disturb the ongoing talks, Atallah concurred. “I’m not questioning the role of Khartoum in perpetrating the atrocities in Darfur but [Al-Beshir] has been heavily involved in initiating talks with the rebel movements which wasn’t the case in the past.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for a UN Security council meeting to activate Article 16 of the ICC’s constitution to delay the indictment, indicating that the arrest warrant was a hindrance to peace and stability in Sudan.
Raslan said, “The court’s decision is politically-motivated and the claim that it is seeking justice is wrong. Justice will only be achieved through a political settlement that will secure reparations for those displaced. The government and the armed rebel forces both committed violations and to target one of them and not the other is wrong.
Atallah was surprised that the court went straight for the head of state when it could have targeted many others in government, because there is evidence of their involvement.
“It could have been a little bit more balanced and gone down the political hierarchy, she says.
In the meantime, the Arab League said on Wednesday it would send a delegation with the African Union to the United Nations to try to suspend the arrest warrant.
The two bodies will send a high ranking joint Arab and African delegation to the UN Security Council to delay the proceedings of the International Criminal Court, a statement from the pan-Arab body said.
The Arab League said it was greatly disturbed by the ICC decision to seek the arrest of Al-Beshir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the six-year conflict in Darfur.
League chief Amr Moussa, reading a statement issued by the 22-member group after an emergency meeting, said it was dismayed that the UN Security Council did not delay the court proceedings.
This is a grave development, he said, adding that the Arab League supported Sudan s sovereignty and immunity for heads of state.
The crisis in Darfur has led to the death of 300,000 people and the displacement of almost 2.5 million others since 2003, according to UN figures. -Additional reporting by AFP.
