{{Sudan’s Ruler Gen. Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan’s planned visit to Abuja for the HIV/AIDS international conference starting Monday may put Nigeria in the eye of the storm as a result of his indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC).}}
This news broke the same day UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in reference to the recent Yobe attack on a school, cited Nigeria as being among countries where children are being killed for embracing education.
Ban spoke on Friday at the UN office in New York at a Youth Assembly session held to honour Malala Yousafzai, the survivor Pakistani girl, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for attending school, last year.
The news about Omar El-Bashir’s trip to Abuja first came through the Sudanese media on Friday night that Bashir, indicted by the ICC since 2009, would be among the over 30 African Heads of State at the international conference.
Besides, Western news media, like the Washington Post and the Associated Press, have also started focusing on the news by yesterday morning.
At about the same time, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, had briefed the Nigerian press that over 30 African Heads of State would be participating at the conference.
She attributed the expected large turnout of African leaders to what she said is Nigeria’s rising significance in the world.
However, Onwuliri was not reported to have specifically listed the names of the heads of state and presidents expected at the meeting, nor was she reported to have specifically mentioned the name of the controversial Sudanese president.
But some countries have welcomed the Sudanese President, including Kenya, Chad and Djibouti.
An African Union’s decision not to cooperate with the ICC is what some African diplomats allude to in advocating Al-Bashir’s visit to some African countries. But, as a signatory to the ICC, Nigeria and several other African countries are expected, under their treaty obligations, to actually arrest the Sudanese President if he sets foot on their soil.
In an email interaction with a top presidency official over the weekend, it was confirmed that the Sudanese President might even have a sideline meeting with President Jonathan.
According to the source, “Presidents Jonathan and Omar Al-Bashir have always met on the sidelines of meetings to discuss the Sudanese situation and other issues. Another meeting between them can be expected.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global human rights organisation headquartered in New York expressed serious concern about the possibility.
HRW’s Associate Director, Elise Keppler, said if Bashir is allowed this visit, “it would be a new low for Nigeria.”
“Al-Bashir is a fugitive charged with heinous crimes committed in Darfur and he belongs in custody,” Keppler stated.
She recalled that before this attempt by Bashir to visit Nigeria, “many other African states have made clear he will not be welcomed, or avoided his visits, including South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, and Uganda. Nigeria should side with victims and arrest or bar entry to Al-Bashir.”
Indeed Zambia, Central African Republic, and Uganda canceled plans to welcome Bashir at the last minute, and Kenya did not allow a second visit.
As for South Africa and Botswana, both nations told the Sudanese President clearly that he would not be welcomed on their soils.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General said in New York on Friday, “Governments and partners around the world have made important progress in education. UNESCO and UNICEF have helped lead the support of the UN family.
But he added that there is still “much work to do… 57 million children are not in school. We have to bring all 57 million people to school by the end of 2015. That is our strong commitment at the United Nations.”
Referencing Nigeria’s recent terrorist killings in Yobe, the UN Secretary-General said, “as we have tragically seen in several countries around the world – most recently in Nigeria – where children were attacked by terrorists at school, schools must be a safe haven, a safe place, for all children –girls and boys– and their teachers who have been targeted in schools. This is an unacceptable situation.”
Continuing, Secretary-General Ban stated, “They have been threatened, they have been assaulted. They have been killed. We cannot let this happen again. No child should have to die for going to school. Nowhere should teachers fear to teach or children fear to learn. Together, we can change this picture.”
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