SA, Sudan warn of ICC plans
2008-09-17 08:38
Cape Town - Peace efforts in Sudan's troubled Darfur region could be seriously undermined by the International Criminal Court's plans to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir, South Africa and Sudan warned in a joint statement on Tuesday.
Its release follows talks between President Thabo Mbeki and his Sudanese counterpart on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Mbeki arrived in Sudan on Monday, at the head of a delegation including Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad. The talks ended on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Mbeki was briefed on "the internal situation in Sudan, particularly the situation in Darfur, the indictment of President al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the situation in Sudan as a whole".
The two sides had agreed that "the approval... of the application by the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor could seriously undermine the ongoing efforts aimed at facilitating the early resolution of the conflict in Darfur".
Further, it could undermine the promotion of long-lasting peace and reconciliation in Sudan as a whole and, as a result, "may lead to further suffering of the people of Sudan and greater destabilisation with far-reaching consequences for the country and the region".
ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has asked judges to issue an arrest warrant for al-Bashir, alleging he lead a campaign of genocide in Darfur, a charge refuted by the Sudanese president.
- SAPA