ICC indicted Bashir leaves SA after judge order conditional restriction on exit: After a South African judge provisionally ordered that President Omar al-Bashir not leave the country due to the outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him, Bashir has now left the country and arrived back in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital. Bashir had been invited by the South African government to attend the AU Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, but the Southern Africa Litigation Center, a local human rights group petitioned for his arrest upon his arrival, in addition to the ICC calling for his arrest. Following the provisional order for Bashir not to leave South Africa, the South African Court was to make a decision on the petition for his arrest on Monday, 15 June 2015. The South African government argued against his arrest, alleging that African politicians have been unfairly targeted by the ICC for years. Despite the hearing that took place on Monday, and before a judgment was delivered, Bashir left South Africa and returned to Sudan. There is criticism that his departure has violated the South African Constitution. (The New York Times, Aljazeera, UK Reuters, Telegraph, CBS News, CNN, Straits Times) (For additional information please click here and click here and click here and click here and click here and click here)
Habre suffers heart condition days before start of trial in Senegal: Chad’s deposed president Hissene Habre is undergoing tests after suffering a serious heart problem while in detention in Senegal. Habre had a history of high blood pressure. The incident occurred days before he is due to go on trial for crimes against humanity in Africa. Habre is charged with war crimes and torture and has been detained in Senegal since 2013. Habre would be the first former African leader to be tried for human rights offenses by another African state. (Yahoo! News)
AU calls for withdrawal of Ruto charges at Summit: On 13 June 2015, The African Union called for the termination of the International Criminal Court (ICC) trial against Deputy President of Kenya, William Ruto because of Fatou Bensouda’s application to use recanted evidence against Ruto to support her case. The AU wants to be heard on the application to explain why the legal provision that Bensouda relied on should not apply to the Ruto case. Bensouda relied on an amendment to Rule 68 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence in filing her application. The ICC Trial Chamber has declined an application by Attorney General Githu Muigai to be enjoined in the matter, already. (allAfrica)
France arrests Rwandan suspected of CAH: A 61-year-old Hutu priest has been arrested in France for crimes against humanity. Courts accuse the man, who is allegedly close to the government/family of former Rwandan President Habyarima of having killed between 25 and 1,000 university students and families with machetes. This arrest has occurred more than 20 years after the 100-day Rwandan genocide that left between 800,000 and 1 million people dead. The Hutu man managed to escape Rwanda when the Tutsis took over his country and he gained asylum in France. Tensions have been ongoing between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups since 1922. (International Business Times)
Israel criticizes UN report before release: On Sunday 14 June 2015, Israel launched a pre-emptive assault on an upcoming U.N. report into last year’s war in the Gaza Strip. Israel is alleging that the report is unfairly biased and is issuing its own report blaming Gaza’s Hamas militant rulers for the casualties that occurred. The Palestinians have joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) and are pursuing war crimes charges against Israel. Israel launched its offense in Gaza last July, in response to heavy rocket fire from Hamas and other militant groups in the territory. More than 2,200 civilians were killed during the fight. (Yahoo! News)
Location of opening for ICC Ntaganda trial to take place in Hague: On Tuesday 9 June 2015, Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided that the opening of the trial of Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda will take place at The Hague, not near the site of the alleged atrocities as earlier planned. Lower court judges wanted parts of his trial to be held in the city of Bunia, so victims could more easily follow the proceedings of the trial. However, Appeals judges disagreed, stating it would be difficult to guarantee the safety of the witnesses and the local communities if the hearings were held in Bunia and the return of Ntaganda would “remind them of the suffering and trauma.” (Reuters)
