Kenyan Court Orders Arrest of Sudanese President

Kenyan Court Orders Arrest of Sudanese President

By SONJA DECHIAN | Published: NOVEMBER 30, 2011

A Kenyan court has ordered the arrest of Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges after facing criticism by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for failing to arrest Bashir when he attended a public ceremony in Kenya last year.

Bashir is wanted by the ICC on charges including genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The African Union has previously advised members to disregard the ICC’s arrest warrant, claiming the organisation is singling out African countries. However as an ICC member state, Kenya is obliged to comply with the ICC ruling.

Kenya’s foreign minister Moses Wetangula said in a statement, ‘Since our judicial system provides for right of appeal, we shall carefully look at the judgement with a view to requesting the attorney general to expeditiously prefer an appeal in the matter.’