Ahmed Haroun

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Ahmed Mohammed Haroun (or Ahmad Harun أحمد هارون) is one of two Sudanese men wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Despite international pressure on the government of Sudan to surrender him to the ICC, Haroun continues to serve as the Sudan's Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs. In September 2007, he was appointed to lead an investigation into human rights violations in Darfur.

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[edit] Background

Haroun comes from the Bargo tribe in western Sudan.[1] He trained as a lawyer and at one time he was Sudan's youngest minister of state.[1]

[edit] Alleged criminal activity in Darfur

From around April 2003 to around September 2005, Haroun served as Sudan's Minister of State for the Interior.[2] During this time, he coordinated the various government bodies involved in the counter-insurgency in Darfur, including the police, the armed forces, the National Security and Intelligence Service, and the Janjaweed militia.[2] It is alleged that Haroun recruited, funded and armed the Janjaweed, and incited attacks against civilian populations.[3][4]

[edit] The ICC warrants and their aftermath

On 27 April 2007, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Haroun and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb.[2][5] The court found reasonable grounds to believe that Haroun was individually criminally responsible on twenty counts of crimes against humanity and twenty-two counts of war crimes, including murder, persecution, forcible transfer of population, rape, inhumane acts, imprisonment or severe deprivation of liberty, torture, attacks against the civilian population, destruction of property, pillaging, and outrage upon personal dignity.[2][6]

However, the Sudanese government has refused to surrender Haroun to the ICC,[7] saying he had no links with the Janjaweed.[8] Sudan, which is not a party to the ICC, argues that the court has no jurisdiction over the case and that it is a matter for the Sudanese judicial system.[5]

Despite international calls for his arrest,[9] Haroun continues to serve as Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs (which is a post below the full ministerial level).[10] In this role, Haroun oversees Darfur's two million internally displaced persons;[5] aid agencies have accused him of hindering their efforts to bring relief to the displaced.[5]

In September 2007, the Sudanese government announced that Haroun would lead an investigation into human rights abuses in Darfur.[7]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Darfur war crime suspect asks ICC to prosecute Bush, Sharon first". Sudan Tribune (2007-02-28). Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  2. ^ a b c d International Criminal Court. Warrant of arrest for Ahmad HarunPDF (507 KiB). 27 April 2007. Retrieved on 6 September 2007.
  3. ^ International Criminal Court. Prosecutor's Application under Article 58(7)PDF (5.14 MiB). 27 February 2007. Retrieved on 6 September 2007.
  4. ^ Fisher, Jonah (2007-02-27). "ICC claims further isolate Sudan". BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  5. ^ a b c d "ICC issues Darfur arrest warrants". BBC News (2007-05-02). Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  6. ^ International Criminal Court. Warrants of Arrest for the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs of Sudan, and a leader of the Militia/Janjaweed. 2 May 2007. Retrieved on 6 September 2007.
  7. ^ a b Apiku, Simon (2007-09-06). "Darfur war crimes suspect leads Sudan rights probe". Reuters. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  8. ^ "Court names Darfur war suspects". BBC News (2007-02-27). Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  9. ^ Crilly, Rob (2007-09-07). "War crime suspect heads human rights inquiry". The Times. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  10. ^ "ICC names first war crimes suspects in Darfur". Reuters (2007-02-27). Retrieved on 2007-09-06.

[edit] External links

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