Sudan, ICC sign deal for achieving justice in Darfur

Khartoum, Aug 13 Sudan and the International Criminal Court (ICC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on provision of information and realisation of justice for the victims of the conflict in Darfur.

Sudan's Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdelbari signed the deal with visiting ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan here on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The MoU helps in providing the requested information and continuing work with the victims, the survivors and the civil society," Khan at a press conference.

He said the visiting ICC delegation and the Sudanese government failed to agree on a specific date for handing over the ousted President Omar al-Bashir and other suspects to the court, adding that the Court would open a permanent office in Khartoum.

He also did not exclude the possibility of trying al-Bashir and other suspects in Sudan under the supervision of the ICC.

"The seat of the court is in The Hague, but if the judges see the possibility of holding the trial in any other place, it's up to them," noted Khan.

The ICC court demands Sudan hand over al-Bashir and two of his senior aides to the court for trial, accusing them of allegedly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

On August 3, the Sudanese cabinet approved a draft law to join the ICC Rome Statute, but this law will not be effective until it is approved by the interim parliament.

During 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012, the ICC issued arrest warrants against al-Bashir, former Defence Minister Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, former Interior Minister Ahmed Mohamed Haroun and around 21 other government officials for allegedly committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

The transitional authorities in Sudan, which were established after the ouster of al-Bashir in April 2019, have earlier expressed readiness to cooperate with the ICC regarding the trial of the suspects accused of committing crimes in Darfur.

Sudan is considering three options to try the suspects, including establishing a special court, creating a hybrid court of the government and the ICC, or handing them to the ICC.