The European Union has come out to defend the walkout of its delegation at President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony saying Uganda let them down by refusing to arrest Sudan leader Omar Bashir.
Bashir was among African and other world leaders that graced the inauguration ceremony of their Ugandan counterpart who assumed the fifth term in office, making him the longest ruler of Uganda. Museveni has ruled Uganda for 30 years.
In a short statement released this evening, the EU Spokesperson said Uganda didn’t fulfill its mandate to have the Sudan leader arrested as it is the demand with all states that are party to resolution 1593 of the Security Council.
“In accordance with established approach of the EU and its Member States, the EU regrets that Uganda, a State Party of the Court, did not fulfill this week its legal obligation, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1593, to execute the arrest warrant against any ICC indictee present in the country” reads the statement.
The European Union further said it is committed to preventing crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, and to avoiding impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes. “The EU confirms its continuing support for the ICC and its work. “Full cooperation with the ICC is a prerequisite for the Court’s effective functioning” reads the statement in part.
The Sudanese leader is accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide during the Darfur conflict. The UN says that about 300,000 people in Sudan have died since fighting began in 2003. More than 1.4 million people are thought to have fled their homes.
Government forces and allied Arab militias are accused of targeting black African civilians in the fight against rebels
