African Media Coverage

December 1-12, 2008

Kenya: Daily Nation
“Prepare to arrest Bashir if indicted on genocide, The Hage tells UN”
Published: December 4, 2008

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor yesterday told the United Nations to prepare to arrest Sudan’s president if he is indicted on genocide charges, and not to protect him in a “cover-up”.

ICC judges in The Hague are considering a request by the prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Campo, for a warrant to arrest President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for crimes in the war-torn Darfur region. A decision is expected next month.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo told the 15-nation UN Security Council it “must be prepared. If the judges decide to issue an arrest warrant against President al-Bashir, there will be a need for united and consistent action to ensure its execution.”

The ICC prosecutor said Mr Bashir had ignored UN calls to halt the violence in Darfur. He accused him of promising ceasefires then ordering bombing raids, denying that mass rape was taking place and promising justice while torturing witnesses.

Read the article here.

Uganda: Uganda Monitor
“The meddlesome ICC in Africa”
Published: December 7, 2008

The International Criminal Court’s uncompromising search for justice in Africa – in places such as northern Uganda, ravaged by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan’s Darfur region – has startled many observers.

The recent move by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno Ocampo, seeking the indictment of Sudanese President Omar is not unprecedented.
Nonetheless, this is a controversial move, as Bashir has allowed the United Nations to send a joint UN-AU peacekeeping force to stabilise Darfur amid several peace initiatives that some commentators believe the ICC charges could jeopardise.

Are we witnessing in Africa an end to impunity or simply a test-run of an international justice system? There is no doubt that, in only six years of operation, the ICC has drawn attention to concerns about justice and impunity in Africa and beyond. It has highlighted the malevolence humanity endures every day, and has awakened the international community to the need to fight injustice. The ICC has also signalled that impunity shall not be tolerated and no individual is above the law.

Read the article here.

Rwanda: The New Times
“Kabarebe extols RDF troops upon return from Darfur”
Published: December 12, 2008

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. James Kabarebe has commended the performance of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) peacekeeping operation in Sudan’s conflict-torn Darfur region.

He was addressing a contingent of 155 troops after their arrival at Kigali International Airport, the last batch to arrive after one year of service overseas.

The troops who are part of the 539-strong 35th battalion has been operating under the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and operated from the Kapkabaiya, Sortani and Sulfumra bases of Darfur.

Addressing the peacekeepers, Kabarebe said that Rwanda is proud of the work being done by the peacekeeping mission. Currently, Rwanda maintains over 2500 troops in the war ravaged Darfur, a region that has had at least 200,000 of its citizens killed while millions have been driven out of their homes.

Kabarebe added that RDF peacekeepers are successfully restoring peace in the troubled region of Sudan. He remarked that the RDF has achieved global prominence in a very short time because of discipline and commitment especially in their excellent performance in Darfur.

Read the article here.