The BashirWatch Coalition, a group of human rights organizations dedicated to accountability in Sudan, expresses its deep concern that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has chosen to welcome Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to Kinshasa to participate in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit despite his record of grave human rights abuses.
President Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur. He has perpetrated the ongoing genocide in Darfur, where hundreds of thousands have died since 2003 and millions remain displaced. The genocide in Darfur continues to this day, and Bashir’s extreme campaigns of violence have spread to other areas of Sudan, particularly South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Bashir has continuously blocked humanitarian aid from reaching those in desperate need, and millions of civilians are facing starvation.
As a State Party to the Rome Statute, the Democratic Republic of Congo has a legal obligation to enforce outstanding arrest warrants issued by the ICC—an obligation the DRC should take especially seriously, given its own invitation to the ICC to investigate mass atrocities within Congolese borders and the successful execution of the arrest warrants issued related to those crimes. The DRC is obligated to act and bring Bashir to justice.
Bashir has continued his reign of terror with impunity for more than 10 years, and it is time to bring justice to his victims. The Coalition acknowledges that the Democratic Republic of Congo is a strong player in North Africa and the Great Lakes Region. It is therefore imperative that the Government of the DRC stand for justice for the people of Sudan and refuse to allow an individual charged with genocide onto its territory. If Bashir enters the DRC, this Coalition calls on the Congolese authorities to immediately arrest him and transfer him to the ICC so that he can face the charges against him.
Accountability is a critical component in creating lasting peace in Africa and throughout the world. Welcoming President Bashir will only serve to embolden a regime that continues to bomb civilian areas and cut off humanitarian aid to those in dire need. The Coalition hopes that this is not the message the Democratic Republic of Congo wishes to send to the Sudanese people, to the international community, or to its own citizens.
The DRC has benefited from the arrest of human rights abusers who have attacked Congolese citizens. It is the DRC’s legal and ethical obligation to ensure that the people of Sudan are able to see the same justice done for themselves and their communities. The Coalition has faith that the Democratic Republic of Congo will take this opportunity to demonstrate its continuing commitment to peace and justice by arresting President Bashir and transferring him to The Hague.
July 31, 2015
The government of Mauritania welcomed Bashir, emboldening a leader of a regime that continues to bomb civilian areas and deny humanitarian aid.
June 4, 2015
South Africa should stand for justice for the people of Sudan and refuse to allow Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, into its territory.
April 21, 2015
Bashir has been flaunting his impunity for years, but not this time.
March 23, 2015
Indonesia has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to visit for the Asia-Africa Summit next month despite his horrifying record of human rights abuses.
October 16, 2014
If Bashir enters Egypt, the Egyptian authorities should arrest and transfer him to the ICC to face the charges against him in a fair trial.
July 17, 2014
A decade since the International Criminal Court was born, impunity is winning in Sudan.
July 11, 2014
Qatar must stand for justice for the people of Sudan by refusing to allow an individual charged with war crimes, Omar al-Bashir, into its territory.
March 4, 2014
Despite the fact that the International Criminal Court has charged President Bashir with committing crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, countries have failed to arrest Bashir and the other Sudanese leaders wanted for these heinous crimes.
March 3, 2014
On the fifth anniversary of the arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, we are encouraging supporters to submit letters to the editor to raise awareness and increase pressure for passage of the Sudan Peace, Security and Accountability Act.
February 26, 2014
Human rights groups express deep concern that the Democratic Republic of Congo has chosen to welcome Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to Kinshasa.
