China has invited Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, to visit the country on June 27 despite the fact that he is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and genocide. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for al-Bashir for orchestrating atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region.

 

China is not a member of the ICC, and its leaders have increased trade with Bashir’s government and claim that the court’s indictment of Bashir could exacerbate instability in Darfur.

 

Bashir has ruled Sudan as a dictator since 1989, directing mass killings in South Sudan and in Darfur. In 2009 and 2010, the ICC issued warrants for his arrest on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, torture, rape and forced transfer), two counts of war crimes (directing attacks civilians and pillaging), and three counts of genocide.

 

Bashir has traveled without arrest to several friendly nations, including ICC treaty signatories Chad and Kenya.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

China Invites Sudan Leader Accused of War Crimes (by Gillian Wong, Associated Press)

China Welcomes Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (by Tania Branigan, The Guardian)

10 Worst Villains Still on the Loose (by David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

CIA Training Spies for Sudan’s Dictator (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Dictator of Sudan Officially Charged with Genocide (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)