Bashir warrant threat to talks, says UN mediator

UNITED NATIONS, Friday

An International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir may have compromised the quest for peace in Darfur, a UN and African Union mediator has said.

The official, Mr Djibrill Bassole, called on the UN Security Council to heed the concerns of the AU, an organisation grouping 53 African countries, that has urged the council to use its power to suspend the ICC’s proceedings against Sudan’s President. Mr Bashir was charged by the court with war crimes in Darfur.

Mr Bassole was addressing the 15-nation council, which later appealed to Sudan to reconsider a decision to expel some aid groups in Darfur after the ICC move. Khartoum has accused the groups of supplying information to the ICC, which they deny.

Mr Bassole, who represents the UN and AU jointly, said his task of bringing together Sudan’s government and Darfur rebel groups for talks was “currently blocked by the intransigent positions of the warring parties” following the ICC move.

“In all likelihood, the process to find a political solution to the crisis in Darfur has been significantly slowed and even compromised,” he told the closed-door meeting, according to a text of his speech seen by Reuters.

Mr Bassole, a former Burkina Faso Foreign minister, suggested the Security Council heed the AU’s position.

The AU and Arab League have urged the council to use its power under Article 16 of the ICC statute to defer court action. That call is backed by China and Russia, but Western states holding vetoes in the council have rejected it for now.

French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert reaffirmed the Western view. “We respect the position of the African Union,” he told reporters. “It doesn’t mean we have to share the same position. ... We think that for the moment, there is no reason to accept any Article 16 solution.”

The six-year conflict in Darfur has resulted in up to 300,000 deaths and the displacement of about 270,000 people, according to UN officials.

Darfur peace talks were held in Libya in October 2007, but fizzled out because key rebel groups boycotted them.

Last month, the Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), a major rebel group, agreed to meet for peace talks, but last week the Jem cancelled the plan until Khartoum allowed back the aid groups it expelled.

Expressed hope

Mr Bassole said the rebels were contesting the legitimacy of Mr Bashir and waiting to see what happens. He said it was important to try to save the peace process and expressed hope that the Sudanese ultimately would overcome their differences.

Khartoum ordered out 13 foreign groups and shut down three local ones after the ICC issued its warrant.