Omar al Bashir: Uganda may offer ousted Sudan leader refuge despite ICC warrant

Uganda will consider an offer of asylum for ousted Sudan leader Omar al Bashir despite an indictment for his arrest by the International Criminal Court.

Bashir is wanted by the court in The Hague for crimes against humanity, murder, extermination, torture and rape, among other crimes, in the Darfur region in the 2000s.

He was removed by the military on 11 April after sustained protests by large crowds of people in the capital Khartoum.

He is thought to be in prison after being moved from a presidential residence where he was under armed guard.

Okello Oryem, Uganda’s foreign minister, said: “Uganda would not be apologetic at all for considering an application by Bashir.”

Claims were made at the time of the Darfur Crisis of villages being burned to the ground

Claims were made at the time of the Darfur crisis of villages being burned to the ground

Officials confirmed Bashir had been moved from a “safe place” to Kopar Prison on Wednesday morning, fulfilling one of the protesters’ demands.

His fall followed months of street protests against his 30-year rule, which opponents say was riddled with mismanagement and brutality.

The protests have continued as their leaders say the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) must hand power to a civilian-led authority ahead of elections.

An estimated 300,000 people died during a military campaign to end an insurgency in Sudan’s western Darfur region over a decade ago.

A refugee camp in Chad housing thousands who fled from Darfur in 2004

A refugee camp in Chad housing thousands who fled from Darfur in 2004

The ICC says in its indictment: “A core component of that campaign was the unlawful attack on part of the civilian population of Darfur.

“During the campaign, (Government of Sudan) forces allegedly committed crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of genocide… carried out numerous unlawful attacks, followed by systematic acts of pillage, on towns and villages… subjected thousands of civilians… to acts of murder, as well as to acts of extermination… subjected thousands of civilian women… to acts of rape… and encouraged members of other tribes… to resettle in the villages and lands previously… inhabited.

“Omar Al Bashir… played an essential role in coordinating the design and implementation of the… plan; and used such control to secure the implementation of the… counter-insurgency campaign.”

There were widespread reports of children dying and suffering from malnutrition as the refugee crisis took hold

There were widespread reports of children dying and suffering from malnutrition as the refugee crisis took hold

The Darfur conflict resulted in a refugee crisis that affected several countries in the surrounding region as more than a million people fled their homes.

Mr Oryem said Bashir had yet to contact Kampala to seek asylum, but added he thought that there was no harm in considering such a claim if one was to come in.

The ICC is yet to comment.

ICC member states, including Uganda, are required to hand over anyone who enters their territory who is under indictment.

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