Sudan’s top military general vows to “cooperate fully” with ICC over handover of Omar al-Bashir

Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a top military general in Sudan, has told rights group he will “co-operate fully” with the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it seeks to bring ousted President Omar al-Bashir to trial for war crimes, against humanity and genocide.

Following a meeting with Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday, Gen Burhan is quoted by the campaign group as saying: “We agreed that no-one is above the law, and that people will be brought to justice, be it in Sudan or outside Sudan with the help of the ICC.”

“We agreed that no-one is above the law, and that people will be brought to justice, be it in Sudan or outside Sudan with the help of the ICC,” he added.

It’s the first time the general has commented personally on the matter since his administration confirmed its intention to hand over Mr Bashir earlier this week.

Authorities said the former president, and others charged by the ICC, should appear at The Hague to face a tribunal.

READ ALSO: Sudanese group supports al-Bashir’s trial at ICC

Spokesman for the Sudanese government, Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi who spoke with BBC Focus on Africa radio on Wednesday said that Bashir and three others would be handed over to the ICC.

The ousted leader was sentenced to two years in a rehabilitation facility after several suitcases filled with multiple currencies worth more than $130m were found in his home.

Recall that during the fourth court hearing in September last year, al-Bashir’s office manager Yasser Basheer said that the former Sudanese leader was the only person with a key to a room at the presidential palace holding millions of euros.

Bashir, who was speaking as a defence witness, also said the former president gave him more than 10 million euros ($11m) cash in his final months of rule for delivery to different parties.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now