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Sudan’s Bashir visits Libya

Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir, wanted for war crimes and genocide, gave a speech in Libya for the first time since the fall of the Gaddafi regime on Saturday, drawing criticism from human rights groups.

Bashir, who claimed Gaddafi provided weapons to South Sudanese rebels, criticised the fallen regime, stating,

“We (the Sudanese) were the second to have suffered the most, after the Libyan people."

The Sudanese president is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, having issued two arrests warrants for him. The ICC also issued warrants for deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for crimes against humanity committed during the country’s uprising in February.

Richard Dicker from Human Rights Watch strongly criticised the visit, saying,

"Omar al-Bashir is an international fugitive from an arrest warrant for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes."

"Many governments have refused him entry into their countries. His arrival in Tripoli sends a disturbing signal about NTC's commitment to human rights and the rule of law."

"Following the end of decades of brutal rule in Libya, it is disturbing if Tripoli hosts a head of state on the run from international arrest warrants for grave human rights violations."

"Whatever the political history and ties between the NTC and Omar al-Bashir in the past, respect for human rights, not to mention concerns for hundreds of thousands of Darfur victims, takes priority."

"This is what adhering to the rule of law is all about."

Several other African states have comes been condemned for their failure to arrest Bashir on visits, with both Chad and Malawi having been referred to the UN Security Council for failing to have done so.

Bashir also said in his speech that Sudan was willing to provide support to Libya, saying,

“We have good experience in integrating insurgents and entering them into the armed forces or the police.”

“Our officers are ready at any time.”

The offer was denounced by Amnesty International who called it “cynical”, given Sudan’s support for militias commiting human rights abuses in Darfur, with Erwin van der Borght, the group’s Africa director adding,

Sudan is the last country that has any credibility in that issue.

Under Gaddafi, Libya’s state-run Foreign Investment Company spent $190 million building the exclusive Burj al-Fateh Hotel, which opened in 2008.

See our earlier posts:

Malawi 'needs to take its medicine' – UN (04 Nov 2011)

ICC demands Malawi explains failure to arrest Bashir
(19 Oct 2011)

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