Omar el-Béchir, finally judged for Darfur? An investigation into the crimes committed in Darfur has been opened in Sudan against the former leaders of the Sudanese regime, the country's attorney general announced on Sunday 22 December. The ousted president has long been in the sights of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for abuses committed during this bloody conflict.
"We have started an investigation into the crimes committed in Darfur from 2003," said Tagelsir el-Heber, who spoke to the press when he arrived in Khartoum after traveling to the Emirates.
According to the public prosecutor's office, this investigation, the first opened since the dismissal, on April 11, of President Béchir after 30 years of an authoritarian regime, will target former "officials of the regime". He did not specify their identity.
Two international arrest warrants for "genocide" and "war crimes"
Omar el-Béchir is the subject of two international arrest warrants issued in 2009 and 2010 by the ICC for "genocide", "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes", in the context of the conflict in Darfur, West Sudan region where war with rebels has left 300,000 dead and 2.5 million displaced, according to the UN.
Despite numerous calls for his extradition, the ex-dictator has never been referred to the court in The Hague, where the ICC sits.
Coming to power after a coup in 1989, Omar el-Béchir was overthrown on April 11 by the army, after several months of a protest movement against his regime which left dozens dead.
Following an agreement concluded in August between the army and the protest, the country is to date ruled by a transitional government, with a civilian Prime Minister and a Sovereign Council made up of civilians and the military. This council is responsible for leading the process for three years, with free elections as the key.
The Sudanese investigation was announced on Sunday when the new government promised to pacify conflict regions, including Darfur.
Omar el-Béchir, implicated in several files
In mid-December, ex-President Bashir was sentenced by a Khartoum court to two years in a correctional institution, for "corruption". He may have to answer other accusations before the justice of his country: he is notably under the arrest warrant for his role in the 1989 coup that brought him to power.
Sunday, in front of the press, the attorney general also indicated that another procedure had been launched against Salah Gosh, the former head of the security services under the regime of Omar al-Bashir.
"There are four cases against Salah Gosh and we have launched a procedure to bring him back (to Sudan) via Interpol," said the magistrate.
Salah Gosh, head of the dreaded NISS, resigned in April, two days after the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir. He is currently believed to be outside Sudan.
With AFP
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