The Sudanese government has dismissed reports that President Hassan Omar al-Bashir cancelled his visit to Indonesia after being denied permission to overfly some countries.
The Foreign ministry, however, confirmed confirmed the cancellation of the trip to Jakarta.
Khartoum had announced that President Bashir had been invited to attend the Asian-African summit in Indonesia beginning Wednesday.
The Foreign Affairs spokesman, Mr Ali Alsadig, told the Africa Review over the phone on Monday that the President would not participate in the conference.
Mr Alsadig said the Foreign minister, Mr Ali Karti, would instead lead the Sudanese delegation to the Indonesia summit.
He said the change had nothing to do with claimed fears of arrest of President Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The spokesman further said President Bashir preferred staying home to await the official announcement of the Sudan election results
“The president will not participate in the Asian-African summit in Indonesia and the minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Karti will lead Sudan’s delegation to the conference,” the spokesman pointed out.
In 2009, ICC issued an arrest warrant against the Sudanese leader, accusing him of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.
Use of violence
ICC and the international human rights organisations called on Indonesia, which is not an ICC member, not to host President Bashir.
In 2011, President Bashir’s visit to China turned dramatic after his plane was blocked from the airspace of two countries, prompting him to return and adjust flight routes to avoid the risk of arrest.
In another development, Western countries will not recognise the results of the Sudanese elections, which showed President Bashir in the lead.
The US, UK and Norway said the outcome of the elections could not be considered a credible expression of the will of the Sudanese people.
In a joint statement extended to the Africa Review, the three countries described the elections as not credible, adding that the government had failed to organise the polls in a free and fair environment.
“The outcome of these elections cannot be considered a credible expression of the will of the Sudanese people,” said the statement.
“The members of the Troika (Norway, the UK and the US) regret the Government of Sudan’s failure to create a free, fair and conducive elections environment.”
The three countries condemned the use of violence during the election period, accusing Khartoum of committing many violations and putting restrictions on the political rights and freedoms of the people.
They further noted that the low voter turnout was due to the suppression of the people’s rights and freedoms, the lack of credible national dialogue and the continuation of armed conflict.
Africa Review
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