The International Criminal Court (ICC) asked Malawi for an explanation as to why the country had not arrested Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir during his visit to Malawi last month. Malawi explained that although it continues to commit itself to the Rome Statute the government found that because Sudan is not a party to the Statute, Malawi could not waive any immunities under Article 27 that it would otherwise provide to the Heads of State. Malawi further argued that it agreed with the position of the African Union that no African leader should have to be brought to the Hague and should otherwise be tried in Africa. The Malawian President would see the act of bringing Bashir to the Hague as undermining the African judicial system. President Mutharika is arguing that the ICC should not be given jurisdiction of the case because courts in Africa are able and competent. However, this case was referred to by the United Nations, in which case the ICC is given jurisdiction. There is a definite need for the international community to cooperate with the ICC and adhere to the jurisdiction it is given in order to give the court a chance. Efforts made by Western countries to take a stance on the issue is important to set an president for what is expected and to add legitimacy to the ICC. Some western countries have already pulled around $1 billion of aid from Malawi for its own human rights abuses and for hosting Bashir, a known wanted war criminal. It is important for the United States to also suspend aid to show that it will not tolerate Malawi's allowance of immunities to Bashir, but it is of further importance that other countries outside of western governments take a stand so to orchestrate a more universal acknowledgment of the ICC and its jurisdiction.
To read more:http://www.sudantribune.com/Malawi-explains-to-ICC-why-it-didn,40711
-Kathleen Fultz
Talks between Sudan and South Sudan are unlikely due to recent violence along the border regions, but the prospect of war is doubtful. According to President Salya Kirr of South Sudan, the South is not willing to further place its people in danger for the sake of fighting with the North. He stated he does not want the North infringing upon the sovereign rights of South Sudan. Subsequently, the northern army conducted two cross-border air strikes on both a refugee camp and a ground attack in the states of Unity and the Upper Nile. Khartoum rejected these charges claiming that Juba was “supplying the southern-aligned SPLM-North rebels that the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) claims to have defeated in Blue Nile state but continues to battle in South Kordofan.” Those analyzing the situation, claim the violence in the tense border regions are going to worsen the situation for Juba and Khartoum where disputes over allocating oil revenue and other post-secession issues.
http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-conflict-undermines-talks-war-unlikely-analysts-202213516.html
Taryn Vaughan
A new program set up to root unqualified state workers in South Sudan is being delayed with concerns of who the it will affect. The Southern Sudan feel these public jobs are entitled to them after enduring a brutal civil war and battle for independence. I can't blame them!
It is estimated that as many as 65 percent of state workers may have falsified their credentials or are unqualified. Public- service jobs are seen as just reward for people who fought in a two-decade civil war that led to South Sudan’s independence on July 9, said Deputy Information Minister Atem Yaak Atem. 42 % of this years budget (98% of which comes from oil production) in South Sudan will go to paying salaries of these workers. Other governments are encouraging South Sudan to look into the issue but nothing has been done thus far..
