One Step Foreward and Two Steps Back?

In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Mr. Kyle Matthews this afternoon, I learned that just hours ago the ICC warrant for Omar Al-Bahir's arrest was issued. Mr. Matthews worked for the UN Hich Commission for Refugees for six years and is now the lead researcher at Concordia's Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS).

It was from him that I first heard of this recent development in the Darfur conflict. We discussed some implications of this announcement.

• The IO and NGO workers in Sudan are in immediate danger of being arrested by the Sudanese government. Mr. Matthews said he was in communication with relief workers (his friends) in Sudan, and they have stocked up on food and are keeping a low profile for the next few days.


• The non-muslim victims in Sudan are also at risk of possible backlash from this. This could lead to further suffering as food and relief supplies may slow to a near halt during this volatile period.


• Conflicts among nation-states may be agitated by this announcement. Many nations are trying to invoke Article 16 of the Roman Statute to have the warrant postponed until Darfur citizens are in a more secure position.


• An ICC issued arrest warrant has never been released for a standing head-of-state. This could result in the nullification of all previous negotiations and peaceful advancements in the Darfur project.

In an E-mail from Amnesty International I learned that 16 countries are supporting this postponement of the leader's arrest. This could be a devastating setback to the progress that has been made, as this would further delay punishment of Al-Bashir for a year or even indefinitely.

It is important that we, as citizens, write to our Secretary Generals and leading officials to encourage them to fight this invocation of a deferral. It is already unknown how long it will take for Omar Al-Bashir to leave Sudan to a country that will turn him over to UN officials. He could hide out for as long as he can remain within Sudanese and its allies' borders, and the UN cannot do anything about that. The best they can do is release the warrant. To cancel this would be like taking one step forward and two steps back.