Radio France Internationale (Paris)

Chad: Sudanese President Told He is Safe in Chad, Despite Warrant for His Arrest

21 July 2010

Chad reassured Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir that he had nothing to fear as he began a visit to the country Wednesday, despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

Beshir is in Chad to take part in a conference Thursday of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States.

The purpose of his visit, according to Beshir, is to open a new chapter in relations between Chad and Sudan. "We are in a new phase of the history of our two countries, in the interests of our two peoples," he said.

The visit is his first to a country which recognises the ICC which has warrants out for his arrest.

Two arrest warrants have been issued by the ICC for Beshir. Both relate to atrocities committed in Darfur in Sudan. The first was issued in 2009 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The second, issued earlier this month, extended those charges to genocide.

Chad is a signatory of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC. This obliges it to arrest any person on its territory wanted by the court.

Chad's Interior Minister Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, however, told AFP "What country has ever arrested a sitting head of state? Beshir won't be arrested in Chad." "Chad is a sovereign and independent state....we are not dependent on the injunctions of international organisations," he continued.

Tagged: Central Africa, Chad, East Africa, Human Rights, Legal Affairs, Sudan

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Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment

  • michel-albert9
    Jul 22 2010, 05:13
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    ICC is one of the best tool to prevent some head of states acting irreasonabbly during their office term, but they (ICC) should be impartial if they need credibility. Omar Beshir knows that president Kagame of Rwanda has committed more atrocities especially in DRCongo then anybody else in the world but the culture of impunity is reigning in ICC where they are more harsh to some head of states and not to others. When even a rebel leader who is protected by president Kagame can move into DRCongo and kill millions (1 000 000) of people in front of UN troops/ media and no ICC warrant for arrest, it is obvious that a lot of Omar Beshir will raise around the world. Jesus Christ is a witness and a judge.