http://www.africareview.com/News/Bloc+tells+Kenya+to+withdraw+Bashir+arrest+order/-/979180/1281988/-/si0cdbz/-/index.html
Regional bloc tells Kenya to withdraw Bashir arrest order
By ARGAW ASHINEPosted Wednesday, November 30 2011 at 15:42
Eastern African security and development bloc Igad has called on Kenya to
reconsider it's court arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan
al-Bashir
A statement from the Intergovernmental Authority for Development Executive
Secretary, Mr Mahboub Maalim, said the arrest of President Bashir would
have adverse effects on peace and stability in the Sudan, and this was
vitally linked to Kenya's continued peace and wellbeing.
"Igad as a regional body, reiterates the AU position on this matter, the
search for justice should be pursued in a manner not detrimental to the
search for peace,” read part of the statement.
The warrant issued by the Kenyan High Court curtails the peace effort, and
puts the fragile peace processes undertaken by Igad at great risk, said Mr
Maalim.
"We respect the courts of member states. However, courts cannot work in a
vacuum and decision has to be rendered considering the law and balancing it
with the wider Igad regional interests," he added.
Igad has called on the Kenyan Government to pay attention to the African
Union joint position to defer the ICC prosecution against President Bashir.
AU in 2009 opposed the Bashir prosecution and appealed to UN Security
Council for a deferral, a position that was endorsed by all member states.
Igad believes that solutions to these issues were not judicial, but
political in nature and therefore should be approached with great
sensitivity to the challenges currently affecting the region.
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Received on Wed Nov 30 2011 - 13:50:48 EST