Highlights: On 11 April 2019, Omar al-Bashir was deposed by the army, under popular pressure. Four years later, the judicial situation of the man who ruled Sudan for three decades has changed little. The former president is indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, crimes against humanity and possible genocide. In Sudan, four judicial proceedings have been opened against him. But, so far, only one has resulted in a two-year prison sentence in December 2019 for bribery and possession of foreign currency.

On 11 April 2019, Omar al-Bashir was deposed by the army, under popular pressure. Four years later, the judicial situation of the man who ruled Sudan for three decades has changed little,...

Sudan: What is the state of Omar al-Bashir's judicial situation, four years after his fall?

Omar al-Bashir at the Khartoum court in August 2019. Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

On 11 April 2019, Omar al-Bashir was deposed by the army, under popular pressure. Four years later, the judicial situation of the man who ruled Sudan for three decades has changed little, with cooperation between the Sudanese authorities and the International Criminal Court faltering.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Florence Morice

Four years ago, on April 11, 2019, Omar al-Bashir was deposed by the army under pressure from the street, after months of daily protests. He was arrested and held in Khartoum's notorious Kober prison. His downfall had unleashed an immense thirst for justice in the country, for the crimes committed during his three decades in power. The former president is indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, crimes against humanity and possible genocide.

Will Omar al-Bashir ever be handed over to the ICC? During the time of the civilian government of Abdallah Hamdok, it is mentioned several times. His transfer is even announced as imminent, in August 2021. No follow-up. Since the October 2021 coup, the prospect of seeing the former dictator in The Hague (Netherlands) – headquarters of the ICC – even seems to be receding. The coup was seen by many as an attempt by the ruling military to evade the risk of prosecution in Sudan or internationally.

► Read also: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, visiting Sudan

Indeed, for the past year, cooperation between Khartoum and the ICC has been faltering. In January, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan complained to the UN Security Council. "A change of attitude must be demanded from Sudanese officials," he said.

In Sudan, three legal proceedings still pending against him

Omar al-Bashir is still in Sudan, theoretically in prison, even if he makes some discreet trips to the hospital, for "medical reasons", according to his lawyers. "Pretexts," his opponents reply. Especially since several videos circulated last year, showing him in good health in the corridors of a private hospital.

► READ ALSO: Sudan sends al-Bashir back to prison and hardens the tone against the Islamists

In Sudan, four judicial proceedings have been opened against him. But, so far, only one has resulted in a two-year prison sentence in December 2019 for bribery and possession of foreign currency. The other three ongoing proceedings in Sudan against Omar al-Bashir concern the killing of protesters, crimes committed in Darfur and his 1989 coup.

Sudan: What is the state of Omar al-Bashir's judicial situation, four years after his fall?

Sudan: What is the state of Omar al-Bashir's judicial situation, four years after his fall?

In Sudan, three legal proceedings still pending against him

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