Rights Groups Slam Bashir's 'Shameful' Nigeria Visit
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir landed in Nigeria's capital on Sunday to attend a continental health summit as rights groups slammed the "shameful" decision to host a leader charged with war crimes.
Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, landed in Abuja at 5:00 pm (1600 GMT) ahead of an African Union Summit on infectious diseases.
He was received by Nigeria's Minister for Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade.
"Nigeria has the shameful distinction of being the first West African country to welcome (the) ICC fugitive Sudanese president," said Elise Keppler, of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch.
Bashir has been indicted by the ICC on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide over the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.
Nigeria is a member of the ICC and has a legal obligation to arrest any suspect wanted by the court who is found within the country.
The government "has completely breached its obligations under international law," Chino Obiagwu, chair of the Nigeria Coalition for the ICC, told Agence France Presse.
Bashir has previously visited ICC member states, including Chad, Djibouti and Kenya, but countries like South Africa and Botswana have ensured he stay away.
Some African Union members and officials have criticized the Bashir indictments, and the body has passed a resolution calling on members not to cooperate with the warrants.
In a statement, Human Rights Watch said the AU resolution to ignore the warrants has "no bearing on Nigeria's obligations as an ICC member."
Hosting Bashir, is an "affront to victims" of the Darfur conflict, Keppler said. "He belongs in custody," she added.
Nigerian officials have been unavailable to comment on the visit.
Source: Agence France Presse
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