On Friday, the Sudanese government warned it could not guarantee the safety of UN and African Union peacekeepers in Darfur if its president is indicted for war crimes. The joint African Union – UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is an unprecedented joint operation determined to end the tragedy in Darfur once and for all. Sudan’s presidential adviser said that if the International Criminal Court indicted Omar al-Bashir, Sudan could not be held responsible for the troops’ well-being. Sudan’s warning follows unprecedented decision by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to seek charges against President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity has thrown a sharp light on his part in the conflict in Darfur. The ICC prosecutor has asked judges in The Hague to issue an arrest warrant for President Bashir. The judges are expected to announce their decision in a few weeks’ time. In Darfur, about 250,000 people have died and two million fled their homes since 2003. Mr Bashir has always accused the international community of exaggerating the scale of the crisis. For Sudan to say it cannot not be held responsible for the troops’ well-being following the proposed indictment is worrying. Peacekeepers have been killed in the past. If Sudan’s leadership decides to stand aloof, the lives of our peacekeepers are likely to be put in the line of fire. Diplomats have said the decision by the chief prosecutor of ICC is a bold human rights intervention, but one that might cause problems on the diplomatic front. They believe the move will complicate or destroy attempts to increase the presence of an international peacekeeping force in Darfur and to encourage negotiations on a settlement between the government of Sudan and the rebel groups in Darfur. But the ICC believes that, its move is exactly what it was set up to do in 2002 - prosecute crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Rwanda has over 2,500 troops part of the peacekeeping mission in the western Sudanese troubled region of Darfur. Rwandans and others in Darfur are playing a vital role in protecting innocent people. Whether what the International Criminal Court says against Bashir is true or not, the peacekeepers must not be used as scapegoats. Contact: ssuna200@yahoo.co.uk
