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Sudanese Leader's ICC Arrest Attempt Overshadows AU Summit


Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, 2nd from right, stands with other African leaders during a photo op at the AU summit in Johannesburg, June 14, 2015.
Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, 2nd from right, stands with other African leaders during a photo op at the AU summit in Johannesburg, June 14, 2015.

The African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit, which ended last evening in South Africa, was overshadowed by attempts to detain Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), for war crimes.

President Robert Mugabe, a strong opponent of the ICC, is not party to the treaty. However, despite efforts to detain him, President al-Bashir, left South Africa, in defiance of a court order for him to remain in the country, a move the High Court has ruled as inconsistent with the constitution, that he must be detained pending a formal request from the ICC.

African Heads of State and Government at 25th AU Summit
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Meanwhile, in his address to the African Union, President Mugabe raised many issues that have drawn much attention, especially on the issue of presidential term limits.

President Mugabe’s criticized some African leaders for not respecting their constitutions particularly Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza, who has changed his country’s constitution to make himself eligible for a third presidential term.

But Mr. Mugabe though said the West must not impose term limits on African leaders, adding that if people still want their leaders they must allow them to continue without limits.

President Mugabe also attacked the West, saying they continue to exploit Africa for its resources, and that he will fight the white man till the bitter end.

For perspective on President Mugabe’s take on term limits and ICC attempts to get hold of al-Bashir while he was in South Africa, Studio 7 reached out to Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition regional coordinator, Joy Mabenge.

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