Rwanda defends Bashir’s visit to Kigali

Kigali. Rwanda Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo has defended Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s expected visit to Rwanda, despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegations of war crimes and genocide.

President al-Bashir is expected to arrive in the country today for the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit to take place here over the weekend.

The first warrant for Bashir’s arrest was issued in March 2009 and the second in July 2010, but no country that he has travelled to since then has implemented the them.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Ms Mushikiwabo said Rwanda would welcome the visit by al-Bashir and went on to criticise the ICC for being politically motivated and biased towards African leaders.

“Rwanda respects deeply the decisions taken by the AU, which requested that Heads of State, if they have crimes reported against them, have immunity as long as they are on official duty,” she said.

“The ICC has a lot of politics. No one can argue against this. Its establishment was welcomed by many countries in 2002, but along the way, it focused more on politicised agendas and not its mandate. For example, there is no explanation whatsoever as to why the ICC focuses on Africa and ignores the West,” the minister said.

She said many African countries wanted to withdraw from the ICC to focus on strengthening a continental justice body – all of which are critical issues that would be discussed at the Heads of State Summit which al-Bashir is expected to be part of.

“Withdrawal of multiple countries from the ICC is part of the discussions that will come up during the meeting. There is no conclusion yet, but it has been discussed already in the last two years,” she said, adding:

“Many African countries believe that the ICC has become a politicised court and that Africa needs to take a position on that. Obviously, withdrawal is a sovereign matter and so is joining the court, but what I know is that a number of countries are ready to withdraw,” she said.

The ICC stated that it does not try individuals unless they are present – and that until President al-Bashir is arrested and transferred to The Hague - the case will remain in a pre-trial stage.

On Tuesday, the ICC referred the governments of Uganda and Djibouti to the UN Security Council for failing to arrest al-Bashir when he visited them in May.

Unlike Rwanda, both Uganda and Djibouti are signatories to the ICC and were obliged to implement the arrest warrants.

South Africa too came under criticism from the ICC in June last year when it declined to implement the arrest warrants when Al-Bashir visited the country.

Observers argue that President al-Bashir’s undisturbed travels within Africa highlights the court’s weaknesses, particularly in Africa where many of its signatories are contemplating on withdrawal.