By Andrew Irumba
Khartoum: Sudan’s transitional government and rebel groups on Tuesday agreed to hand over former president Omar Al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Al-Bashir, who was overthrown by the military in April last year (2019) amid nationwide protests, faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity over the conflict that broke out in Darfur in 2003. Al-Bashir ruled Sudan for 30 years.
Since his ouster last year, Al-Bashir has been in jail in the capital, Khartoum, on charges of corruption.
Mohammed Hassan Al-Taishi, a member of the Sovereign Council and a government negotiator, told reporters in Juba that they have agreed with rebel movements in the Darfur region to hand over those wanted by the International Criminal Court to face justice in The Hague.
“We agreed that everyone who had arrest warrants issued against them will appear before the International Criminal Court. I am saying it very clearly,” al-Taishi said.
“Without them appearing before the International Criminal Court, we cannot achieve transitional justice and healing,” al-Taishi concluded.
The transitional cabinet headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was formed months after the ouster of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir amid nationwide protests in April last year.
Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan heads the ruling sovereign council, a joint civilian and military body tasked with overseeing the country’s transition to civilian rule within three years.
