The Sudanese government welcomed on Wednesday the surrender of Sudanese militia leader Ali Kushayb into the custody of the war crimes tribunal.
In a statement, the government reiterated that it was ready to discuss the extradition of the remaining accused, who are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), including ousted President Omar al-Bashir, as part of the government’s pursuit of justice for the victims of the war in Darfur as a necessary condition for achieving peace.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda described Kushayb’s surrender “a pivotal development” for victims awaiting justice and urged Sudan to hand over Bashir and two others wanted by the court.
The ICC said Kushayb, who is charged with 50 crimes against humanity and war crimes in the devastating conflict in Darfour, surrendered to authorities in a remote corner of northern Central African Republic, near the country’s border with Sudan, and arrived at the court’s detention center in The Hague on Tuesday evening.
Bensouda told the UN Security Council that she hopes Kushayb’s surrender sends an unequivocal message that her office will not stop pursuing alleged perpetrators of the world’s worst crimes “no matter how long it takes or the obstacles placed in our path.”
“I remain hopeful that a new chapter of constructive ICC-Sudan engagement rooted in mutual respect and a genuine commitment to bringing justice for the victims of heinous crimes committed in Darfur may be on the horizon,” she said, stressing the need to holding dialogue between her office and the government.
