ICC Prosecutor to Visit Darfur Next June
The head of the ICC delegation discussed the planned visit with Sudan's Minister of Foreign Affairs
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, will visit Darfur next June, while an ICC official revealed significant progress in the investigation files.
Khartoum:Al Taghyeer
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, discussed with the ICC delegation headed by Vaciso Mushushoku arrangements for Bensouda’s upcoming visit to Darfur next June.
The delegation conveyed to the Foreign Minister that Bensouda was keen to visit Darfur before the end of her term of office.
The Foreign Minister appreciated the ICC delegation’s efforts to achieve justice for victims of Darfur war, and affirmed her ministry’s readiness to facilitate the delegation’s tasks in accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Vaciso Mushushoku appreciated the Foreign Ministry’s role in facilitating the delegations’ tasks and overcoming all difficulties that might face them in implementing MOU terms.
The ICC delegate also noted significant progress in the investigation files.
Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda visited Khartoum for the first time in October to discuss the trial of those accused of war crimes in Darfur, led by ousted President Omar Al-Bashir, with Sudanese authorities
Previous ICC Endeavors in Sudan
Last February, a 12-member ICC delegation visited Sudan, including competent investigators in women’s and children’s rights violations, witness protection, and health specialists to arrange for the upcoming visits.
The Sudanese Public Prosecution Office had signed an MOU with the ICC Prosecutor’s Office regarding the trial of Ali Mohamed Ali Hamid, known as “Ali Kushayb.”
The agreement stipulated that defendants, against whom the Court issued arrest warrants, would appear before the Court.
Kushayb had surrendered himself voluntarily to the Court in The Hague through the Central African authorities.
During 2007 to 2010, the ICC issued arrest warrants against al-Bashir, his Defense Minister, Abdul Rahim Mohamed Hussein, and the former Ministry of Interior, Ahmed Haroun, along with the tribal leader Ali Kushayb.
