The Daily IIJ

The African Union Implementation Panel for Sudan prefers a hybrid court to handle the atrocities committed in Darfur.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who heads the panel, said his team has recommended to the AU that a hybrid court would inspire confidence among the Sudanese people since it would compose of Sudanese judges as well as judges nominated by the AU.

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest against Sudan’s president Omar al Bashir in connection with the atrocities. But the news has not been received well in Sudan.

Speaking after paying a courtesy call on former Kenya’s President Daniel arap Moi, at Kabarnet gardens, Nairobi, Mbeki said the panel met International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was told various decisions have been taken on Sudan advising that anybody seeking a change will have to appear before the judges at ICC.

In their meeting, Ocampo also said ICC does not take precedence over national court.

“The panel would look at how justice can be found within Sudan itself, and we have made recommendations on how the issue can be addressed in Sudan,” said Mbeki.

Mbeki also pointed out that the ongoing violence in southern Sudan would affect the planned referendum next year and therefore needs to be addressed. Already, the Southern Sudan government is concerned and has asked AU’s assistance on the issue.

Mbeki who was accompanied by panel member and former Burundi’s President Pierre Buyoya, said they chose to visit Kenya to seek advice from Moi and President Kibaki on issues affecting Sudan given that Kenya played a key role in brokering a peace deal in the country in 2005.

“Kenya played an important role in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement(CPA) and we thought it was important to meet President Kibaki and former President Moi and brief them on what the panel is doing and seek their advise,” said Mbeki.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby visited Sudan earlier in the week, catching authorities there off-guard. Mbeki said he interacted with Deby and Sudan’s President Omar al Bashir on how to normalize relations between the two countries and came to an agreement.

“What remains is the implementation of the agreement,” he added.

The two countries have been engaged in a proxy war for several years along their common border around Darfur area.

Sudan has been of the opinion that Chad backs Darfur rebel groups, while Khartoum is accused of supporting armed militias who are active in eastern Chad.

The panel is working with the Sudanese people on behalf of the AU to help solve the conflict in Darfur, assist with the elections in April as well as the implementation of the CPA.