Henry Mukasa, Milton Olupot and Cyprian Musoke
15 July 2009
Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has held a telephone conversation with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar el-Bashir, over the ICC warrant of arrest.
Bashir is invited for the Smart Partnership dialogue in Kampala, starting on July 26.
The ICC chief prosecutor, Moreno Ocampo, on a blitz visit on Monday, however, said Uganda, as a signatory to the Rome Statute which establishes the court, has an obligation to arrest the Sudanese president.
"The two presidents spoke on how to solve this issue in a diplomatic manner," James Mugume, the foreign ministry permanent secretary, said yesterday.
"The President was sorry that the media made it appear that Bashir would be arrested upon arrival in Kampala."
Mugume explained that foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa was due to meet Bashir in Egypt, where both are attending the Non-Aligned Movement meeting, to deliver a message from Museveni.
The message says Uganda is committed to its obligations under the Rome Statute and to the Africa Union. This means that Uganda will wait for the outcome of the Mbeki committee before making a judgment on the indictment.
"We hope this will be solved through diplomatic channels to avoid a diplomatic embarrassment," Mugume added.
The same message was delivered to Parliament yesterday by Isaac Musumba, the Minister for Regional Cooperation.
"While we are mindful of our international obligations, we at the same time wish to avoid a possible diplomatic incident that may arise as a result of a visit by President Bashir at this point in time," he told MPs.
"The Government is, therefore, diplomatically engaging the government of the Sudan with a view to ensuring that while the invitation to President Bashir still stands, a possible diplomatic incident is avoided."
In July 2008, the ICC indicted Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ocampo issued the warrants of arrest in March 2009.
Uganda, as a state party to the Rome Statute, is "duty-bound to arrest and hand over anybody indicted by the ICC," Musumba noted.
He, however, added that the Government's current stand is informed by the "intricate national, regional and international peace, security and stability dimensions". He mentioned the indictment of LRA leader, Joseph Kony, and his commanders, a case that was referred to the ICC by Uganda.
"Honourable members are aware that the indictment of President Bashir has been quite controversial given his status as a sitting head of state and the unprecedented nature of such a step."
Musumba said various reactions have ensued as a result of this landmark development, with the African Union setting up its own probe, chaired by former South African president Thabo Mbeki.
"The AU resolved that before it condemns or absolves President Bashir, it would need to make its own investigations," he noted.
"Until such a time and subject to the findings, it is diplomatically not appropriate to engage in acts of condemnations of President Bashir on one hand, and also unhelpful to appear to condone violations of the human rights of the people of Darfur on the other."
He told the House that the AU also requested the UN Security Council to defer the implementation of the arrest warrant for 12 months. Within this time frame, he said, it is believed that the Mbeki panel will have issued its report.
He pointed out that Uganda is further bound by the AU resolution in Sirte, Libya, saying state parties of the ICC should not cooperate with the world court in its pursuit to arrest Bashir.
In the debate that followed, MPs said the Government was caught between a rock and a hard place in trying to balance its regional and international obligations.
Mathias Kasamba, who chairs the defence and internal affairs committee, wondered how Uganda would avoid a diplomatic row when Bashir jets into the country. "As incumbent chair of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), current president of the UN Security Council and signatory to the Rome Statute, how are you going to avoid this incident?" he asked.
Betty Amongi (Independent) observed that the minister's statement was a diplomatic way of telling Bashir: "Your invitation still stands but don't honour it."
Reagan Okumu (FDC) wondered why the Government invited Bashir in the first place when it was aware of a possible diplomatic incident should he come.
"Bashir is instrumental in the CPA and if Southern Sudan is not stable, Uganda will not be stable. While we think international, we should also think local and regional," he said.
MPs Onyango Kakoba and Stephen Tashobya, both NRM, called for the strict execution of the arrest warrants against Bashir if he comes.
The opposition UPC also called upon the Government to arrest Bashir. The party said it would serve as a warning to African leaders that they must learn to account for their actions.
"The arrest should be carried out since it will be a good lesson for despotic leaders on the continent," said UPC secretary general Chris Opoka during the weekly press briefing.
Additional reporting by Darious Magara
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
MATTHEW 10:26 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT WON’T BE REVEALED AND THERE IS NOTHING HIDDEN THAT WON’T BE KNOWN.
Remember the 120 ! in the Upperroom, Gideon’s 300, One(1) believer can chase 1,000 demons & Two (2) can make 10,000 run .
How many will 1 million chase ?
Here’s An abbreviated Spirit Bomb prayer that I’d like for us to say to God The Creator Of All :
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN .
- In Jesus Name We Pray – Amen
Pray twice per day once around sunset & once around sunrise .
Have prayer lists which include Family, Christians, Truthseekers ,& Worthy Causes , etc…
SOME OF OUR LEADERS ARE UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE , SOME OF OUR
WORLD IS UNDER THE SAME,. OUR UNITED , CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS
PRAYERS WILL HELP US TO SEE THROUGH JESUS’ EYES. REMEMBER , HE’S
THE HEAD, WE HAVE NO EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, ETC..WITHOUT THE
HEAD. THAT IS WHY WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE
OR ANY OTHER NATURAL DISTRACTION. WE ARE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS !!!
Make a Habit Of Praying Twice a Day (Sunset / Sunrise). Have A Daily Prayer, Weekly
Prayer , Monthly Prayer, even Yearly Prayer ; keeping persons, organizations and causes
in mind that you’d like to pray for at these intervals of time ( Daily-Weekly-Monthly-
Yearly).
Some prayer list suggestions –
(DAILY PRAYER LIST ) -
Christian & Natural Family -
TOP-PRIORITY Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(WEEKLY PRAYER LIST ) -
MID-LEVEL Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(MONTHLY PRAYER LIST ) -
- Persons, Causes & Oragnizations ( For Example – Heads Of Countries)
(YEARLY PRAYER LIST ) -
LOWER LEVEL - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
[God Bless You Readers To Want To Know And Seek To Know The Truth] - MAY GOD BE A HAVEN OF PEACE IN OUR TIME OF TROUBLE --
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
It will remain one of the most degrading things to the continent if President Bashir is trapped in Uganda by the same people who attended AU summit in Libya as opposed to AU resolutions in libya. what is the guiding spirit of the shameless and capitalist led ICC that has never turned in any prsesident outside our continent? Sierra Leone Charles Taylor's life has been on ICC's balance for years now. And the same oppressors continue to dangle murder tools over his head! I can only believe in ICC if it can expand its operative apparatus beyond African continent. I do not think that Ocampo is a suitable candidate to deliver lectures to us on issues that are political and some that are legal. This is because we know that human right issues which were violated in Iraq,Iran and those standards which were not met in Guantanamo are legal issue with merit, but never received any attention because violators are not from the continent of Africa. Why is it necessary for Oryem to mention that Uganda is committed to a statute that was drafted inside a room which its corridor Uganda was seated? But the AU libya summit in which Uganda was in the deliberation chamber was doomed to be of no effect? i do not think that President el Bashir is the best thing for Sudan but i know that ICC is not any solution to the Sudanese problems. So Oryem keep to the terms with AU and see your obligation towards AU resolution and not the so called Rome Statute that you were no where involved in its birth.
Let Uganda arrest this terror of our times! Bashir is a terrorist and he has even surpassed Hitler in his actions! The genocide in darfur must stop and this can only happen if Africa goes ahead in accord with the ICC and bring this monster to justice. chinedu, i see that you are ill-informed on international affairs and you shouldnt expose your ignorance in public! I am not surprised that you are one of those group of criminals in the nigerian government who fatten themselves from the coffers of the state, while thousands of children die each day from malaria which can be cured with just $1!
You are correct. Bashir should be arrested. He has allowed the murder, rape, maming, hunger to thrive in Sudan. He should be held accountable for these crimes. Africa
hi Rockyblack74, i agree with you that offenders will be brought to book and that leaders be held accountable especially in Africa. However, it must not be in any colonial arrangements! it is my considered view that you make efforts to support your arguments with reasons, atlest to lend some credence to your claims. And for your own honour, do not present yourself as one who is suffering with the disease of emotional imaturity. thank you for a balanced view you have on International Relations.
See all comments (19).
Active Discussions: Bashir and Uganda