• Sudanese leader needs no invitation to attend summit, says govt
• President left hurriedly
THE European Union (EU) Tuesday blamed Nigeria for not arresting the indicted Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, during his visit to the country on the just-concluded AU Summit on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other related diseases.
A statement by Spokesperson of EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on the visit of al-Bashir, noted that he was under an arrest warrant by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The spokesperson said that Nigeria was obliged to abide by the resolution of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in this case UNSCR 1593(2005).
It stated: "The High Representative is concerned by the visit of President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, to Nigeria, a State Party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)."
She recalled that al-Bashir is under an arrest warrant by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The High Representative reiterates the importance for all member-states of the United Nations to abide by and implement the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in this case UNSCR 1593(2005). She urged Nigeria to respect its obligations under international law to arrest and surrender those subject to an arrest warrant from the ICC.
However, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has explained that Nigeria, as an active member of the continental body, is under an obligation to comply with the decision of the African Union on the meeting.
In a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, the ministry said the decision to hold the summit was taken by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and, therefore, member-states did not require the invitation from Nigeria to attend.
The statement reads: "President al-Bashir was, therefore, in Nigeria under the auspices of the African Union, based on the Assembly's decision to convene the Special Summit in Abuja, to deal with three diseases that together constitute a heavy burden on member-states.
"Any attempt to make an issue out of the attendance of President al-Bashir at the AU Summit will only serve to unnecessarily shift focus away from the important objectives of the special summit. It is, therefore, a matter between the African Union and the international community.
"For the records and avoidance of doubt, Nigeria's position in this regard is consistent with the AU Assembly's decision adopted at the 13th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government in Sirte, Libya on July 3, 2009, as it concerns President al-Bashir of Sudan.
Meanwhile, fresh information from the secretariat of the African Union Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, indicated that al-Bashir hurriedly left Nigeria without making his presentation, nor did he participate in official summit discussions.
Officials, who did not want to be named, said he left on Monday evening without attending any of the official sessions of the summit, despite making a brief appearance at the venue.
"He hurriedly left the VIP room amidst heavy security while the main conference was going on at the main hall," an official said.
Information made available to The Guardian indicated that the leader, who has two international arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC), appeared at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was welcomed briefly by President Goodluck Jonathan before the beginning of the day's programmes. He, however, stayed put at the special VIP waiting room provided for participating heads of states, Presidents, Health Ministers and top African Union officials.
The official said: "He was not available when he was called to make presentation, neither did he participate in the group pictures. He did not also attend the dinner hosted by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday evening."
Pressed for further details, the official said: "The only public appearance he made was when President Goodluck Jonathan stepped out to welcome him to the conference centre. He relocated to the VIP room and hurriedly left the ICC later after a meeting with host President Jonathan; Chairperson of the African Union, Dr. Hailemariam Dessalegn and Chairperson of the African Union Chairperson Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Zuma and a few other officials."
The source said the decision for the Sudanese President to leave the Conference Centre without attending any of the official sessions might have been reached to reduce the 'overbearing heat' from the international community.
Also, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has expressed strong discontent over Nigeria's romance with President al-Bashir of Sudan.
In a statement made available to The Guardian in Enugu and signed by its Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezike, CLO said it was worried that al-Bashir, who has been "indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide and crimes against humanity could be given such a rousing welcome in Nigeria.
CLO said: "Al Bashir is indicted for war crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan where over 200,000 persons were killed and hundreds of thousands of others maimed. Nigeria signed the Rome Statute, which established the ICC in 2001 and had nominated a judge to the court and, therefore, has both the moral and legal duty to respect the order of the court, which has issued a warrant of arrest against al-Bashir.
"Four African countries: Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia, had refused al-Bashir's entry into their countries. CLO is worried about Nigeria's romance with a man who has been named by the world as a terror killer against human beings at a time the government is claiming to be fighting terrorism".
The Guardian
Nigeria should be used to slamming already because we get that on a daily basis. Let's just hope this would make us stronger and wiser....