18 Jun 2015

Botswana government welcomes North Gauteng High Court ruling that called for incarceration of Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir in South Africa owing to an outstanding warrant of arrest against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

President Al-Bashir has been indicted by the ICC for allegedly committing crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur, in which more than 300 000 people were killed.

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation says the decision, therefore taken by the court against President Al-Bashir while attending the African Union Summit in South Africa is a positive development that will send a clear message to others; that the days of impunity are numbered.

“We commend this action that gives hope and optimism to the victims of these atrocities and brutality,” it says.

Botswana as a State party to the Rome Statute, which sets out the crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, strongly supports international efforts to hold those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes accountable.

“We have consistently indicated that should President Al-Bashir come to Botswana, we will pursue the spirit of the law as outlined in the Rome Statute. We therefore find it disappointing that President Al-Bashir avoided arrest when he cut short his visit and fled to his country in fear of arrest.

We call on all countries that are a State party to the Rome Statute of the ICC to cooperate with the ICC in ensuring that President Al-Bashir is made to account for the atrocities committed in Darfur and to support the international community's efforts to provide justice for the victims.

The African Union should lead by example in this regard,” it says. Ends