The International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue new arrest warrants against rebel commanders and government functionaries for blocking aid to Sudan's troubled Darfur, Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said.
In an address to the UN Security Council, the Prosecutor said Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir continued to authorise more attacks and new crimes were being committed while the Council remained inactive on the same.
“This Council should be even more concerned about the situation in Darfur, given that crimes continue to be committed, including by those already indicted by the Court,’’ Bensouda said.
“The question that remains to be answered is how many more civilians must be killed, injured and displaced for this Council to be spurred into doing its part?’’
The ICC Prosecutor said she was more concerned about the continuing pattern of attacks by the government in its efforts to quell what it considers to be a rebellion.
“I have indicated specific incidents of concern and which seem to represent an ongoing pattern of crimes committed pursuant to the Government-avowed goal of stopping the rebellion in Darfur,’’ the Prosecutor said.
ICC Judges ruled in 2010 that genocide was being committed under the watch of the international community and indicted Al Bashir on accusations of harbouring an elaborate plan to exterminate the Zaghawa tribe in Darfur.
Among indicted include Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb, who reported to then Minister of State for the Interior Ahmed Harun, who himself reported to then Minister of the Interior Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein.
“Their responsibility is not a mere consequence of their official roles.
“In all of these cases there are witnesses that describe in detail their active participation in the strategy to commit crimes as well as in the execution of that strategy,’’ Bensouda said.
The Prosecutor says she will consider whether further investigations and additional applications for arrest warrants are necessary to address ongoing crimes, including those undertaken with the aim of thwarting delivery of humanitarian aid.
The recent attacks on the AU.-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) peacekeepers as well as bombardments and other direct attacks on civilian populations are also being considered.
(PANA/NAN)