US welcomes Sudan decision to send ex-dictator Bashir to ICC

By : AFP

Date: 11 August 2021 9:38pm WAT

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 21, 2020 This AFPTV screen grab from footage aired shows Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir disembarking from a vehicle upon arriving at the courthouse to attend his trial along with 27 other co-accused, in the capital Khartoum. - Sudanese foreign minister Mariam al-Mahdi said on August 11, 2021 that Khartoum would hand ovr former long-time autocrat Omar Bashir and other officials to the International Criminal Court for their role in the Darfur civil war. (Photo by Mohammed ABUAMRAIN / AFPTV / AFP)

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The United States on Wednesday praised Sudan’s decision to hand over ex-dictator Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court, saying the move would be a “major step” in the country’s democratic transition.

“We do welcome the reconfirmation by the (cabinet) of its intention to hand over former president Bashir and other former officials wanted by the ICC for crimes in Darfur,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

“We urge Sudan to continue to cooperate with the ICC by handing over those subject to arrest warrants and by cooperating on the provision of the request of evidence.”

“Doing so would be a major step for Sudan in the fight against decades of impunity.”

The United States for years pressured nations not to welcome Bashir due to the 2009 arrest warrant over the brutal conflict in Darfur, which Washington had described as genocide.

After ruling with an iron fist for three decades, Bashir was deposed in 2019 amid youth-driven protests.