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8691st Security Council Meeting: Sudan and South Sudan
With extraordinary political change under way in Sudan, its transitional Government must ensure justice for the victims of atrocities in Darfur by either prosecuting the five suspects wanted by the International Criminal Court, including former President Omer Hassan Ahmed al‑Bashir, domestically, or sending them to The Hague for trial without delay, the Chief Prosecutor told the Security Council today.
Fatou Bensouda, presenting her report to the Council on developments since her previous briefing on 19 June (see Press Release SC/13849), expressed great confidence that Sudan’s new leaders will honour their commitments, including the Court’s outstanding arrest warrants for Mr. Al-Bashir — sentenced on 14 December to two years in detention for financial crimes — and four other individuals, including two who remain at large.
“Sudan must ensure that the five suspects in the Darfur situation are brought to justice without delay, either in a courtroom in Sudan or in The Hague”, she said, emphasizing that the opportunity to take concrete steps to end impunity for alleged crimes in Darfur must be seized.
[Mr. Al-Bashir, who is wanted for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, was the first sitting Head of State to be issued with an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, which received a referral regarding the situation in Darfur by the Security Council, through resolution 1593 (2005).]
In the ensuing debate, Council members echoed Ms. Bensouda’s call for Sudan to cooperate with the Court. They also voiced concern at ongoing unrest in Darfur, including clashes between Government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid al-Nur faction in the Jebel Marra area.
Côte d’Ivoire’s representative, emphasizing that fighting impunity and ensuring accountability are critical for national reconciliation and lasting peace, called on the Court to support the Sudanese authorities’ efforts to ensure that justice is served, including by bolstering national judicial institutions.
South Africa’s delegate underscored the principle of complementarity underpinning the Rome Statute, whereby States bear primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute crimes. He expressed concern that sexual violence is still being used as a weapon of war in Darfur and called on the military and security forces to ensure the full protection of civilians and respect for human rights.
Belgium’s representative said the situation in Darfur cannot be set apart from the situation in the rest of Sudan. Indeed, Council support to the Court is more important than ever before, he said, adding that justice is a linchpin for peace in Darfur and throughout the country.
Kuwait’s delegate, among other speakers, asserted that Sudan’s sovereignty and independence must be respected. In that regard, she drew attention to a decision by the League of Arab States in 2010 that rejected the politicization of the principles of international justice.
The United States representative urged the transitional Government to honour its promises. While Mr. Al-Bashir’s conviction is encouraging, he added, the charges were narrowly focused and there can be no lasting peace if no one is held accountable for the deaths of nearly 300,000 people.
Sudan’s representative, taking the floor at the conclusion of the debate, said that in the wake of his sentencing, Mr. Al-Bashir will be prosecuted for more serious crimes, including the coup that brought him to power. Fighting impunity, he stressed, is a priority for the December revolution and a necessary element for establishing lasting peace, adding: “We will not allow any person to escape punishment and responsibility.”
Also speaking were representatives of Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, France, China, Equatorial Guinea, Russian Federation, Indonesia, Peru, Germany and Poland.
The meeting began at 3:03 p.m. and ended at 4:32 p.m.
For further details please see SOURCE below.
MEETINGS COVERAGE
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