IGAD urges Kenya to withdraw Bashir warrant   

The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) has urged Kenya to reconsider its arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. 

IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim said the arrest of President Al Bashir would have adverse effects to peace and stability in the Sudan and this is vitally linked to Kenya's continued peace and well-being.

"IGAD as a regional body reiterates the AU position on this matter; the search for justice should be pursued in a manner not detrimental to the search for peace”, part of the statement reads. 

The warrant issued by the Kenyan High Court curtails the peace effort, and puts the fragile peace processes undertaken by IGAD at great risk Mr Maalim said. 

"We respect the courts of member states. However courts can not work in a vacuum and decision has to be rendered considering the law and balancing it with the wider IGAD regional interests," he added. 

IGAD believes that solutions to these issues are not judicial but political in nature and therefore should be approached with great sensitivity to the challenges currently affecting the IGAD region.