Nigerian Times

President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2011 RIGHTS GROUP CALLS NEW ICC ARREST WARRANT FOR SUDAN GOVT LEADER MODEST BUT INSUFFICENT STEP Seeks U.S. Leadership for True Justice in Sudan (Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews released the following statement today in response to the International Criminal Court’s request for an arrest warrant for Sudanese Defense Minister General Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussein, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur: “The ICC’s action is a modest but insufficient step toward holding perpetrators accountable for heinous crimes they have committed against the people of Darfur. The fact remains that the worst perpetrators that are wanted by the ICC continue to commit these crimes with impunity and travel freely around the world. Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir and his cronies continue to commit atrocities that hav...

Darfur - George Galloway by inet 21 Nov 2011 06:35 Africa/Lagos Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief EL FASHER (DARFUR), November 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief / 20 November 2011 UNAMID supports sports competition in North Darfur In its continued efforts to engage the local community, UNAMID presented today sports equipment to five secondary schools from Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Zamzam internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in North Darfur, which will participate in the Back to School Tournament. The kits included balls, nets, footwear and clothes for female and male volleyball and football teams. UNAMID Director of Communications and Public Information Kemal Saiki said that “UNAMID has been very active working for the community, essentially for the youth. We are keen to see the youth engage in activities that promote competition in a peaceful way”. On behalf of the Principals of the schools and the Umdas (community leaders) from the three camps, Ibrahim Al...

Act of War by Sudan Requires Change Of Course For Obama Administration’s Sudan Policy Action Not Words is Needed Now (Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews released the following statement today condemning Omar al-Bashir’s attacks on civilians in South Sudan and calling on the United States to hold Bashir and other perpetrators responsible for their crimes: “Omar al-Bashir has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in the last six months, and now he is attacking these same men, women and children in the South Sudan villages where they have sought refuge. These attacks are not only an escalation of Bashir’s brutality against civilians, they are an act of war against a sovereign nation whose independence the United States hailed and celebrated only four months ago. What more evidence does Secretary Clinton and the Obama administration need that its Sudan policy has failed and needs to be fundamentally changed? The United States needs to be deman...

Human Rights Leader Faults Obama Administration for Failure In Sudan – Could Cost Thousands Of Lives Rejects Current “Normalization” Approach for Tough Sanctions against Indicted War Criminal (Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews today urged policymakers to mandate increased U.S. sanctions and other actions to help halt escalating ethnic-based attacks on civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile by forces backed by Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir. Andrews testified at a House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing, “Sudan: The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in South Kordofan and Continuing Human Rights Violations in Darfur.” Omar al-Bashir “Omar al-Bashir is repeating the targeted ethnic attacks of Darfur in South Kordofan and Blue Nile where his forces have already killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands displaced with little food and no access to humanitarian aid,” stated Andrews. “Unfortunately, the Obama Administration, by ...

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir 17 Jun 2011 12:42 Africa/Lagos China must arrest Sudanese President LONDON, June 17, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chinese government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Beijing, Amnesty International said today. Omar Al-Bashir is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and other high-ranking officials as part of a visit from 27-30 June The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape. “If China welcomes Omar Al-Bashir it will become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of genocide”, said Catherine Baber, Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty Internati...

7 Jun 2011 16:46 Africa/Lagos Migrants Continue to be Vulnerable in Libyan Conflict GENEVA, June 7, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- IOM Press Briefing Notes The on-going conflict and political stalemate in Libya has left migrants in a situation of continued vulnerability, with large groups stranded across the country. During an assessment of the humanitarian needs in various parts of Libya, IOM staff reported on the plight of a large community of mostly African and Filipino migrant workers sheltering in two sites in the capital, Tripoli. Staff say some of the migrants have been without jobs since the beginning of the crisis as their employers had left the country. Feeling they have nothing to return to, they stay on in Libya in the vain hope that they may receive back pay from their employers or find another job. Others have been left to take care of employers' properties but have not been paid since February. The majority, from Ghana, Togo, Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon and o...

Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks and Humanitarian Aid Restrictions in Darfur Washington, D.C. – Sudan Now, a group of human rights and anti-genocide organizations, today called on the Obama Administration to condemn the Government of Sudan for conducting air strikes against civilians in Darfur and preventing humanitarian assistance from accessing the affected sites. The administration should demand that access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers be restored immediately, the Sudan coalition said. The air attacks were the second in three days conducted by the Government of Sudan and were followed by the denial of access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers for nearly all of South Darfur, including two of the largest displacement camps in the world. “The U.S. government has offered a roadmap to normalization of relations with Khartoum, with the hope that these incentives could lead to a peaceful transition to independence of South Sudan as well as progress toward peace...

10 Mar 2011 14:27 Africa/Lagos Sudan / Crackdown on peaceful protest continues KARTHOUM, March 10, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Sudanese authorities must release over 50 protesters arrested during a peaceful anti-government demonstration in the capital Khartoum, Amnesty International said today. Police and Agents of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) reportedly beat protesters in Abu Jenzir Square who were calling for an end to President Al Bashir's 21-year rule. Among those arrested are prominent human rights activists, politicians and journalists. Some were arrested at their homes by the NISS. The protest was part of ongoing demonstrations organized by youth groups and opposition parties inspired by the anti-government protests in North Africa. "The Sudanese government must immediately release all demonstrators" said Erwin van der Borght Amnesty International's Africa Director. "The authorities must also investigate all all...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2011 CONTACT: Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193 On Second Anniversary Of International Criminal Court Indictment Of Sudan’s Al-Bashir, GI-NET/SDC Calls For More Robust Pursuit Of Justice President Omar al-Bashir (Washington, DC) – Two years ago today, the International Criminal Court issued charges against Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to his actions in Darfur. In July 2010, the court added charges of genocide against Bashir. On this anniversary, Mark Hanis, President of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition, issued the following statement: “Omar al-Bashir remains a fugitive from justice, not only defying the ICC arrest warrant but still perpetrating attacks against innocent civilians in Darfur. The many victims of Bashir’s heinous crimes deserve to see him held accountable and brought to justice. “By allowing Bashir to go unpunished, the world is sendin...

Dear Aisha, It started yesterday. One of the most prophetic Sundays in Southern Sudan, but will the skies no longer be gloomy in Darfur? I know that David must be happy for you. The lanky Senator John Kerry and George “the debonair” Clooney were there. They flew all the way from America to witness the making of history. The week-long independence referendum to free your people of the south from the shackles Khartoum. They joined the crowds sweating in the heat of the Sunday sun. January 9, 2011, will be an unforgettable day in the history of southern Sudan. Nobody seemed tired of standing in the long queues as they were waiting to cast their votes in the last leg of the long march to freedom. The harrowing nightmares of the horrifying and terrifying years of the rampaging devils on horsebacks will no longer haunt your people? Dr. Halima Bashir will no more drink from the pool of the tears of the desert and the sleepless nights of Daoud Hari The Translator of the years of the wrath o...

President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday July 14, 2008, on charges of crimes against humanity. Sudan alerted the U.N. that the indictment could jeopardize the peace process on the resolution of the Darfur crisis. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague found President Bashir guilty of the murder and rape committed by the Sudanese government troops and their militias against the people of Darfur. The ICC sought for the warrant to arrest President Umar al-Bashir for trial. Related reports: 14 Jul 2008 15:16, USAID Memorial Ceremony Planned 12 Jul 2008 00:49 Embassy of Sudan: Ocampo's Political Pursuits Jeopardize Peace 11 Jul 2008 23:30 Ros-Lehtinen Condemns UN Failure to Pass Resolution on Zimbabwe 10 Jul 2008 20:27 Donation Helps Expand Water Well Work in Darfur 9 Jul 2008 21:52 USAID Memorial Ceremony Planned 09:56 National Elections Act: A Milestone Towards Peace And Democrac...

24 Apr 2008 12:45 Africa/Lagos The New York Times Wins an Unprecedented Six of 21 Top Honors at the 69th Overseas Press Club Awards; Getty Images Dominates the Photography Category; James Nachtwey Receives the OPC President's Award NEW YORK, April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Times captured six of the 21 awards given by the Overseas Press Club in its 69th annual competition honoring the finest international journalism. This total is the most any single organization has won in the annual awards from the OPC. Getty Images dominated the photography category, earning three of the four awards given. The OPC awards will be presented by NBC News Anchor/Correspondent Ann Curry at an April 24 dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York. Photojournalist, James Nachtwey will be on hand to accept the President's Award. Nachtwey has won five Robert Capa Gold Medal Awards from the OPC over the years for his photographic reporting requiring exceptional courage and enterprise....