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The Indictment of Sudanese President
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Aug 21, 2008 - 7:12:56 AM

The Indictment of Sudanese President

The decision of the Prosecutor in charge of Darfur, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, to file 10-point accusations at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, to most watchers of the morbid drama in that region, is long overdue. But for it to achieve the desired objective of bringing justice and peace to that traumatised area, this new development must be handled with tact. Nothing short of that would bring succour to the long-suffering people of Darfur and heal the sensibility of the human race that has been brutalised since 2003 when the conflict between the central government in Khartoum and the Darfur rebels began. At this point, nobody should be in doubt about the severity of the crisis and the factors that have fueled it so far.
Al-Bashir has clearly not tried to dispel the belief around the world that the Janjaweed, the mainly Arab militia that has raped, tortured and killed blacks in Darfur for five years, has official backing. He has not provided the kind of leadership and statesmanship needed now to end the agony and death that have continued to plague Darfur.
Examples of his indifference and complicity abound. Last year, the United Nations mission headed by Jody Williams, a Nobel laureate, was prevented from entering Sudan. Shortly afterwards, one of al-Bashir's top aides, Ahmad Harun, and the Janjaweed leader, Ali Kushayb, were charged by the ICC for war offences and crimes against humanity and then ordered their arrest. But giving the sovereignty of Sudan as excuse, the strongest man of Khartoum has refused to release them for trial. His apparent unwillingness to cooperate fully with the international community in its quest for lasting solutions also heightens the apprehension over peace in the region.
The allegations levelled against him have, therefore, not come as a surprise to followers of the sad events in that part of Africa. With five counts of atrocities against humanity, three of genocide and two of murder, al-Bashir will not only be faced with legal hurdles but also a sea of damning public opinion.
But rather than face the reality of the moment, the Sudanese President has, characteristically, reacted to the move to prosecute him comically. He has sent his diplomats around the world to curry sympathy for his country, with a pledge to guide Sudan along the path of democracy. And to demonstrate his so-called popularity in Darfur, he visited the place the other day and was received with a clearly stage-managed rousing welcome. Even the water-tight security provided for him during that charade pointed to his unpopularity.
But then, expediency must not be sacrificed on the alter of legality. Even though al-Bashir has not been too open to external intervention, there are indications that he now cooperates relatively more in the on-going peace process. So, pressing the case against him too hard could unwittingly push him into desperation, a scenario that would certainly not help the current sorry situation there. As the president of Sudan, he is arguably the most critical single character in the tragedy that his country has become. With a support base in the nation’s capital, China and the Arab world, al-Bashir can further frustrate the search for peace in Darfur.
What should be paramount now is the halting of the suffering there. If that means still encouraging al-Bashir to embrace the various peace initiatives, so be it. It is also instructive  that the process of trying a sitting president has been initiated. That should serve as warning to other national leaders who have become obstacles to the progress and safety of their own people.
The United Nations Security Council, in particular, should do all it takes to nudge al-Balshir towards responsible leadership and to also let him know that his fate could actually turn out bad, even as president, if he fails to do the right things.