ICC prosecutor confirms Sudan trip

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is expected to visit Sudan next week as she waits for judges to confirm war crimes charges against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman. At his confirmation of charges hearing in February, Bensouda said her office would prove that the former Janjaweed senior operative had committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur since 2003. The East African reports that Bensouda, who will be leaving office next year, will be making her second trip to Sudan. She said she would use this trip to thank witnesses, victims and other individuals and organisations who continued to pursue justice and accountability for the crimes committed in Darfur. Bensouda will then present her last report to the UN Security Council on the Darfur cases. Abd-Al-Rahman has been accused of 31 war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 2003 and 2004. He is part of the Sudan Situation together with former President Omar al-Bashir, Ahmad Harun, Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, Muhammad Hussein Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Bahar Idriss Abu Garda.

Full report in The East African

A Khartoum court is trying al-Bashir and 27 former officials for the 1989 coup that swept the regime to power. It has heard a detailed list of those involved in the plot in testimony from one of the co-accused. Retired Colonel Hashim Omar Breeqa ('accused No. 28') has named former Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and leading officials Hassan El Turabi and Awad El Jaz and others in a sitting of the court presided over by Supreme Court Judge Ahmed Ali Ahmed. Radio Dabanga reports that he testified that he attended a series of meetings where the coup was discussed. The trial continues.

Full Radio Dabanga report