Sudan and ICC

Al Bashir and the Politics Of War Crimes
Sudan, the largest country in Africa and once regarded as the potential breadbasket of the Arab world, has in its over fifty years of independence been devastated by a series of civil wars and internal turmoil that threatened its survival. Again, the country is in headlines, this time, not of civil wars but of its aftermath. The International Crimes Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant on President Omar Al-Bashir. The ICC has advanced reasons for this: accusations of human rights violation in the Darfur region of Sudan. The move was, according to the African Union Commission, through its Chairman Mr. Jean Ping is 'pouring fuel on the fire'. The AU is trying 'to extinguish the fire, the ICC put more oil in the fire'. He said. Provincial governor, Osman Mohammed Youssef said ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has a 'wicked political stance aiming at cutting the ongoing efforts to solve Darfur's issue peacefully' adding that Sudan is not a signatory of the ICC and the court has no jurisdiction over Sudan, its people or government. The civil war in the Darfur region, no doubt, is adjudged one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. But can the latest move by the ICC (that is the attempt to arrest the Sudanese President) help in resolving the crisis? Invariably, no! The actions of the ICC and the reluctance of the United Nations, African Union and the Arab League to bring the war to an end, represent the usual double standards of international players when it affects poor countries. The conflict in Darfur and the crimes against humanity, represent a shameful episode in the history of mankind. It is not long ago, in 1992 and 1994, under the watchful eyes of the United Nations (UN) and the world Super Powers, that innocent, armless civilian were massacred in Bosnia and Rwanda. Equally disgraceful is how this conflict is politicised by Britain and the United States using their powerful media. For instance, the US Congress passed a resolution, on June 22, 2004 declaring that the violence in Sudan was state-sponsored genocide. In October 2006, former President of the US, George W Bush signed it into law as Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. However, the UN, after thorough investigations, came out, in early 2005, to declare that although both the government of Sudan and militias were systematically abusing civilians in the Darfur region, it insisted no genocide had taken place. If UN could declare the war was not genocide, then, on what premise does the ICC arrive at the latest decision? Probably, the US Congress' biased resolution that was purely political. Automatically, the ICC's highest observance of fairness and due process on this note has failed. It has also exposed the double standard which the West represents in dealing with third world countries. The war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan by occupying forces still remains worse than what obtains in Darfur or anywhere in the world, probably worst than the atrocities committed by the Nazis in World War II. However, the ICC does not see these as relevant as to issue an arrest warrant on Former US President, Bush or former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Human rights organizations in the West also failed to even for once condemn the killing of innocent civilians including women, children and the old in Iraq or Afghanistan. And, up to this day, the violations of human rights in Guantanamo, Abughuirab and Haditha were not publicly condemned by any of these agencies. But these same agencies were very quick to pass judgment on a war that is regarded as an internal crisis of a sovereign nation. Unlike the events in Iraq, where a sovereign nation was invaded on false accusations and official deception, the crisis in Sudan is an internal local conflict in which various tribes and communities fight each other in order to have control over the natural resources in the area. In Iraq, the US and British military are directly involved in the killing and maiming innocent civilians. The Sudanese president is alleged to have been involved in supporting the Janjaweed militias' atrocities on Darfur civilians. The civil war in Sudan is no different from any other ethnic or tribal conflict that happened in DR Congo, Uganda, Liberia or Sierra Leon. National security in any nation is paramount. A responsible government can go to any length to ensure the security of its national borders. It is understandable therefore for Sudan to go to any length to ensure the protection of live and property of its citizens. No responsible government can allow terrorists to hold it hostage. The ICC does not deem it fit to declare an arrest warrant on the Congolese President, Joseph Kabila, despite evidence of human right violations in the country's long civil war. Equally, no comment came from the ICC or humanitarian organizations on the situation in Somalia where innocent lives were killed by Ethiopian invading troops. They entered Somalia without mandate from the AU or UN and committed various forms of atrocities against innocent Somalis. The crisis in Darfur region of Sudan can only be resolved when external forces - the U.S. and Britain especially - stop meddling in the country's affairs. But due to political and economic interest in Darfur, this could be difficult, because there are countries that benefit from the present crisis in the region. They will not allow peace to reign in the region. Sudan has become a victim of international politics being played for over a century when Britain and Egypt fought over the country for 57 years. After its independence in 1956, the country was faced with internal political wrangling, from an army coup in 1958, to rebels' insurgence in South of the country in 1966. In 1976, the then President Numeiry survived a coup attempt masterminded by former Finance Minister Hussein AlHindi and former Prime Minister Sadik al-Mahdi, both in exile. Some 2000 heavily-armed civilians infiltrated into Khartoum and Ondurman. In 1981, the country faced the biggest industrial unrest where 43,000 workers participated in support of a pay claim.
Before the present crises in Darfur, a 19 years old ravaged the country untill a cease-fire was achieved between the then rebel's leader John Garang and the Sudanese government. Nobody will support oppression, dictatorship and holding a country for ransome by a single individual, but in a situation where the international community prefers to selectively punish some criminals and allow others to go free does not speak well for organisation that claims to be neutral.
The ICC/ El Bashir saga like any other brings to light the usual hypocrisy of major international actors when dealing with poor countries.
Kabiru Danladi. Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road, Akko LGA, Gombe State. kblondon2003@yahoo.com
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