ICC Chief Prosecutor Visits Sudan

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan poses during an interview with Reuters at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Levaux
International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan poses during an interview with Reuters at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Levaux
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ICC Chief Prosecutor Visits Sudan

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan poses during an interview with Reuters at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Levaux
International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan poses during an interview with Reuters at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Levaux

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan has arrived in Sudan, state media reported in the country still wracked by unrest since the 2019 ouster of its leader accused of genocide.

"The ICC prosecutor and a court delegation will hold a number of meetings with senior officials and he will be visiting the Darfur region," the state news agency SUNA said late Saturday.

Khan's visit will continue until August 25, SUNA said, a year after he visited the country for talks on outstanding arrest warrants over crimes committed during the 2003 Darfur war under ousted president Omar al-Bashir.

His visit this year is the third by an ICC prosecutor to Sudan since Bashir's ouster in April 2019, AFP reported.

Khan's predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, held talks in Sudan in May 2021, bringing the strife-hit country's former leaders one step closer to being tried at The Hague for war crimes.

Sudan has been reeling from deepening unrest, spiraling economic crisis, and a spike in ethnic clashes, including in Darfur, since a military coup last year led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The October military coup upended a fragile transition put in place following the ouster of Bashir, who was deposed following months of protests.

Bashir remains wanted by the ICC over his role in the 2003 Darfur conflict.

The United Nations says 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced during the conflict.

Since his ouster, Bashir has been held in Khartoum's Kober prison along with several of his former aides who are also wanted by the ICC. He faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In April, senior Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, also known by the nom de guerre Ali Kushayb, faced the ICC in its first trial for war crimes in Darfur.



Masoud Barzani Mobilizes to Seal Baghdad-Erbil Rift


File photo shows Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani with Masoud Barzani (left) and Nechirvan Barzani (AFP)
File photo shows Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani with Masoud Barzani (left) and Nechirvan Barzani (AFP)
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Masoud Barzani Mobilizes to Seal Baghdad-Erbil Rift


File photo shows Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani with Masoud Barzani (left) and Nechirvan Barzani (AFP)
File photo shows Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani with Masoud Barzani (left) and Nechirvan Barzani (AFP)

Tensions between Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region, had been escalating due to political and legal disputes, notably the Federal Supreme Court’s February decision to nullify minority quotas. However, since the Court reversed its ruling in May, relations have remarkably improved, marking a new era of calm and cooperation.

This positive turn follows strained ties exacerbated by Kurdistan’s 2017 independence referendum.

Masoud Barzani, influential leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is set to visit Baghdad—the first in six years—to engage in talks and negotiations aimed at resolving long standing issues.

According to Kurdish sources, Barzani is scheduled to arrive Wednesday for discussions aimed at finalizing solutions to ongoing disputes, including financial allocations, employee salaries, oil and gas legislation, electoral issues, and governance challenges in Kirkuk, where local elections have yet to form a government six months after voting.

Barzani’s agenda in Baghdad is expected to include discussions on Sinjar, recent Turkish military actions in Dohuk province and other Kurdish areas, and potential threats from armed groups targeting Erbil.

A Kurdistan Regional Government delegation arrived in Baghdad on Monday to prepare for Barzani’s visit and discussions. The delegation includes Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed, Finance and Economy Minister Awat Sheikh Janab, and the Director General of Customs and Border Crossings.

As Barzani prepares for his visit, Erbil is swiftly strengthening ties with Iraq’s judiciary, especially the Federal Supreme Court.

Relations had soured in recent years due to what the Kurdish region criticized as biased rulings.

Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani’s support for Chief Justice Fayeq Zidan is a key development amidst reports of potential US sanctions linked to Iranian interests targeting Iraqi leaders, including Zidan.