UN chief met Sudan’s president who is accused of genocide
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Sudan’s president, who is accused of genocide by the International Criminal Court, on the sidelines of the African Union summit on grounds of “operational necessity,” the United Nations said Monday.
U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that operational necessities allow the U.N. chief to meet with President Omar al-Bashir “from time to time” on issues such as the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur and the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the oil-rich Abyei region that is disputed between Sudan and South Sudan.
“That doesn’t obviate the need, of course, for respect of the International Criminal Court,” Haq said.
Al-Bashir is accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur during fighting since 2003.