Sudan will hand longtime ruler Omar Al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court (ICC) along with two other officials wanted over the Darfur conflict, officials say.
Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi was quoted as saying “(the) cabinet decided to hand over wanted officials to the ICC,” but did not give a timeframe.
Al-Bashir, 77, has been wanted by The Hague-based ICC for more than 10 years over charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Sudanese region.
ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was visiting the region when the decision came but it still needs the approval of Sudan’s ruling sovereign council which is comprised of military and civilian figures.
Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who also met Khan, on Wednesday said “Sudan’s commitment to seek justice is not only to abide by its international commitments, but it comes out of a response to the people’s demands”.
It remains unclear if al-Bashir would be extradited to face trial in The Hague, or could remain in Sudan.
Volker Perthes, the UN Special Representative to Sudan, on Wednesday said the ICC “can help” with the “establishment of (a) Special Court for Darfur”, without giving further details.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Bashir in 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, later adding genocide to the charges.
Al-Bashib was removed by the military and detained in April 2019 after four months of mass nationwide protests against his rule.
