SA will uphold ICC warrant of arrest for Sudan's Al Bashir

South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says SA supports prosecution of perpetrators of human rights violations in war torn Darfur including Sudan’s President Omar Al Bashir. Since the Darfur crisis began, more than 300 000 people have died and hundreds of thousands of people live in deplorable situations.
Al Bashir has so far evaded arrest – choosing his international destinations carefully.  South Africa supports the AU decision for the International Criminal Court warrant of arrest to be delayed but has made it clear Bashir will be arrested if he visits the country.
Media reports suggest that the AU investigative panel on Darfur headed by former President Thabo Mbeki recommends a new court with foreign judges be established to prosecute perpetrators of the violence in Darfur.
Motlanthe says, “The AU position that South Africa subscribes to and is party to says no impunity should be allowed. In other words whoever was involved in killings should be brought to book – (even the President) if he was, yes, then he should.”
Motlanthe spent three days meeting with rival north and south leaders. He says Pretoria is willing to mediate. The Sudanese elections still hang in the balance as key issues including electoral reform and the census are yet to be resolved.
President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit says, “The census results that are going to be used in the elections are still in dispute. We have not accepted the legitimacy of these results.”
The traditionally Muslim North and Christain South engaged in a bloody civil war for over 20 years but this ended in 2005 with a peace agreement. Motlanthe has called for unity. He says history has shaped the current situation in Sudan and leaders must understand that they are confronted by problems that are not of their own making but are their inheritance. The Deputy President added that the leaders must realise that they now have the responsibility to carry the future.
Motlanthe also discussed party to party issues with the Sudan Liberation Movement. The ANC and SPLM have signed a memorandum of understanding to help the party move from a liberation movement to a governing party.