Not only is the Government of Sudan nervous about the ICC; the international community here is perhaps even more nervous about the potential implications of the new indictments, due out Monday. The BBC is now openly reporting that President Bashir himself will be fingered. Story here.
The potential implications of these indictments are many and depressing. Everything from anti-Western riots on the streets of Khartoum to government-backed attacks on UN targets to the expulsion of many or all international organizations.
I imagine that this is a bit of what it feels like to wait for a grenade to explode.
Let’s just say this is one of several very worrying potential developments in the coming month. The outlook is stormy.
3 responses so far ↓
Global Voices Online » African bloggers’ reaction to ICC charges against Sudanese President al-Bashir // July 17, 2008 at 7:21 pm
[...] Sudan On Friday, Too Huge World, an aid worker based in North Darfur, compared waiting for news of the indictments to waiting for a grenade to explode: The potential implications [...]
Villager // July 19, 2008 at 12:53 am
We want to see the terrible things in Sudan (particularly Darfur) come to an end. Most things rise and fall with leadership. It seems that it would be a good thing to have the leader who allowed Darfur genocide indicted for crimes against humanity. I guess time will tell…
peace, Villager
doug // July 19, 2008 at 11:52 am
villager,
Thanks for that.
The prickly question, however, is whether the indictments against Bashir will bring more or less peace to Sudan. There are interesting arguments on both sides but, at the moment, I have a hard time seeing how the indictments will help to bring an end to violence. I, like Alex de Waal, tend to believe that being named as wanted criminals will make it less likely for this regime to surrender power (and, with it, relative immunity) through elections or a peace settlement.
cheers.