AU official slams ICC over Bashir's arrest order

The Presiding officer of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, Joseph Chilengi on Monday condemned International Criminal Court (ICC) for ordering the arrest of Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir during his visit to South Africa to attend the AU Heads of State summit.

"We regret the events of the last 48 hours occasioned by ICC warrant of arrest against a sitting president. This was an attempt to disrupt fruitful debate by our leaders," Chilengi told reporters on the sidelines of the summit in Johannesburg.

The presence of Sudanese President at the AU Heads of State summit on Sunday despite a warrant of arrest by the ICC generated huge frenzy from the international media.

Al-Bashir's presence overshadowed critical topics for discussion at the biannual summit.

Chilengi said the AU was not impressed by the ICC attempt to humiliate a sitting president in a foreign land.

"The summit was discussing very fundamental issues affecting the continent and we regret ICC attempts to disrupt it through unorthodox means," Chilengi told reporters

He clarified that al-Bashir was in South Africa at the invitation of the AU which provides immunity to leaders in line with international law.

"President Bashir came to South Africa to attend AU matters and was not a guest of the government of South Africa," said Chilengi.

He added the African Union fully abides by the UN Vienna Convention that grants diplomatic immunity to state officials accused of impropriety.

Chilengi noted the Hague-based court failed a credibility test as a result of the unilateral action.

He revealed the African leaders are fully committed to the establishment of an impartial domestic court to try cases emanating from the continent.

"We have robust judicial systems that can effectively prosecute serious crimes," Chilengi remarked. Endi