Bashir visit stirs anger

Nairobi — Kenya was in the eye of a storm on Saturday over its decision to invite Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to witness the promulgation of the new Constitution on Friday. US President Barack Obama led the condemnation by the international community and local leaders over the Sudan leader's presence during the historic ceremony at Uhuru Park. In a statement issued from the White House, President Obama said he was "disappointed that Kenya hosted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in defiance of International Criminal Court arrest warrants for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide".

Al Bashir attended the ceremony uninvited. He landed at JKIA international Airport without permission. The southern Sudan government was outraged as their leader Salva Kiir had also attended the promulgation of the new constitution and was already representing Sudan. The Sudan leader has two arrest warrants over charges that relate to atrocities committed by Khartoum's forces in Sudan's western province of Darfur. Kenya, as a signatory to the treaty which set up the ICC, was obliged to arrest President Bashir, who was indicted in March 2009 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and in July 2010 on charges of genocide. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton as well as the U.N security council had urged Kenya to arrest Mr Bashir and hand him over to the ICC.

Al Bashir was welcomed with open arms although the insults came soon after he left. Sudan's army was on stand by and threatened to invade Kenya if Bashir was arrested. If they arrested him Sudan would have occupied and attacked Kenya. The International Criminal Court (ICC) reported Kenya to the UN Security Council and the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute over Friday's visit.

What do you guys think about the whole issue? Did the government make the right move to maintain peace or did they just dig their own graves?

Omar al-Bashir

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This is my first thread, did it quickly, format is crap!

Cheers.

First off..congrats on a good first post! S+F. It sounds to me like the AU needs to have it's support and aid (military equiptment and funding) cut by the U.S. and the rest of the int'l community for a while for protecting this d-bag. Yes, they are such good neighbors to Kenya that the threatened to invade if he was arrested. Outstanding.

Cheers, i agree with you, although all America's funds are going straight into their pockets. The COMESA (common market place for east and southern Africa) have supported the visit. What i don't understand is why the U.N would want Kenya to do their dirty work. Its obvious they have evidence against him , but is it really that difficult to arrest him? why do they want someone else to hold responsibility? what's the catch.