Sudan President Bashir, accused of war crimes, would be arrested in South Africa, says ANC

South Africa's ruling African National Congress said Tuesday that Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted on war crimes, would be arrested if he came to South Africa.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir (r.) is greeted by First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit as he steps off the plane from Chad, in Khartoum July 23. The African National Congress (ANC) says it will not hesitate to arrest President Bashir if he came to South Africa.

Mohamed Nurdldin Abdallh/Reuters

By Savious Kwinika, Correspondent

July 28, 2010

Johannesburg, South Africa

South Africa's ruling political party, the African National Congress (ANC) says it will not hesitate to arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir if he ever comes to the country.

Addressing former political prisoners at the Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg on Tuesday, ANC deputy secretary general, Thandi Modise, said South Africa was not a haven for people who violate people's rights.

"If Bashir were to come to South Africa today, we will definitely implement what we are supposed to in order to bring the culprit to Hague," said Ms. Modise, referring to the arrest warrant the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued for Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his handling of the conflict in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur.

"We can't allow a situation whereby an individual tramples on people's rights and gets away with it," Modise told the Monitor in an interview after the meeting. "The perpetrators of war crimes should be tried at all costs."

The ANC's stand comes in stark contrast that of the nation of Chad, which hosted Bashir last week, despite being an ICC signatory. The ICC has requested that any member arrest Bashir upon arrival in the country, but the mayor of Chad's capital, N'Djamena, gave Bashir the key to the city when Bashir arrived.

Sudan 101:

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