The state prosecutor of Sudan, Tagelsir al-Heber, on Dec. 22 announced the launch of an investigation into the crimes committed in the Darfur region under former President Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir has already been arrested by the Sudanese government for corruption and is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and grave rights violations committed in the Darfur region of Sudan as early as 2002.

Al-Herber said that "former regime leaders" would be investigated for crimes including murder and rape. Al-Bashir and other figures from his regime that are being investigated cannot be tried by the ICC unless the Sudanese government allows it. Al-Herber noted that trials for these crimes could take place abroad, which implied a willingness by Sudan to allow the ICC to pursue their claims against al-Bashir as well as four other Sudanese wanted in connection with the Darfur violence.

Al-Herber also spoke of an investigation into former intelligence chief Salah Gosh, who quit just two days after al-Bashir was ousted from the presidency in April, and is now in exile. The prosecutor said that the Sudanese government was in the process of bringing Gosh back to Sudan.

Over 300,000 people died in Sudan as a result of the crimes allegedly committed by al-Bashir and his counterparts.

From Jurist, Dec. 23. Used with permission.

Note: The other four Sudanese suspects wanted by the ICC are Ahmed Haroun, who was acting head of the Bashir's National Congress Party and former governor of Southern Kordofan state; Abdulraheem Mohammed Hussein, the former defense minister; Ali Kosheib, a militia leader; and Abdallah Banda Abakaer, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a rebel group in Darfur. (HRW, April 18)