Sudan’s Al-Bashir still traveling despite the ICC

Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir has been welcomed in Saudi Arabia. He is under an arrest warrant from the ICC – now five years old – on charges including genocide. But that hasn’t stopped him from paying regular visits abroad.

Countries which have not signed up to the ICC – like Saudi Arabia – are under no obligation to cooperate with The Hague. The court, however, has reminded Riyadh that the UN Security Council has referred the Darfur situation and all states were expected to cooperate.

But it also says “the Chamber wishes to point out that the Court has no enforcement mechanism and thus relies on the States’ cooperation.” Which means that the Sudanese leader is likely to keep adding to his airmiles. 

According to regional observers, he’ll be heading to Cairo soon too. 

Lead image: Omar al-Bashir (Photo: Ashraf Shazly/AFP Photo) 

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