Today, Pre-Trial Chamber I at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, the military ruler of Sudan for his role in escalating violence and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Western Sudan. He was accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur since 2003.

A savage scorched-earth campaign has been continuing against civilian populations in Darfur during the last six years. The government army and its proxy militia groups known as the Janjaweed are responsible for the most serious crimes of rape, mass killing, pillaging and burning of villages inhabited by indigenous Africans in the region. About 300,000 civilians were killed as a result of violence or because of wa induced famine; lack of basic needs such medicine, potable water and shelter since the conflict was triggered in 2003. About 3 million civilians were forced to leave their villages and live in miserable camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) or forced to leave the country as refugees into eastern Chad and other neighbouring countries.

Efforts of the Joint African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) to protect civilians are facing many impediments but mainly the government objections to the participation of troops from certain countries as well as delays in issuing the necessary permissions to facilitate their work.

Violence and aggressive administrative measures by the government have forced many aid workers and relief organisations to leave the country or to reduce their capacity to a minimum.

Shrinking humanitarian assistance to the needy people in Darfur is causing severe hardship especially among the IDPs.

On March 31, 2005 the UN Security Council reaffirmed that the situation in Darfur represents a threat to international peace and security and adopted resolution 1593 (2005) which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC. On July 14th 2008 and because of his leading role in the violence prevailing in Darfur, the ICC Chief Prosecutor charged Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and requested the Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue an arrest warrant against him. Justice done and seen to be done is one of the main demands of the victims of the armed conflict in Darfur.

Fundamental justice that overarches the suffering of the victims of the conflict in Darfur commands that all individuals responsible for authorising, organising or executing the massive crimes committed against these victims should be held accountable.

We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Darfur fully support the decision of the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue an arrest warrant against Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir. This measure which was long overdue would send a decisive signal to all individuals who participated in the crimes committed in Darfur that they are longer immune from prosecution. This decision also put to test the world resolve to protect civilians in need and to combat impunity. It is thus morally and legally binding upon all states member of the United Nations organisation to cooperate with the ICC in implementing its mandate and prosecute the perpetrators of the crimes committed in Darfur.
Signed:
1. Darfur Call – The Netherlands
2. Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre – Switzerland
3. Darfur Peace and Justice Organisation – Belgium
4. Darfur Peace and Development Organisation – USA
5. Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development – UK
6. Darfur Displaced Peoples and Refugees Association – UK
7. Darfur Solidarity Ireland - Dublin.
8. Darfur Association in Germany