The Ugandan government on Tuesday said it is willing to offer asylum to Sudan’s ousted president Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
“If Omar al-Bashir applies for asylum in Uganda that is a matter that can be considered by the President of Uganda,” said Okello Oryem, Uganda’s foreign affairs minister, reported Africa News.
Oryem, who described Bashir as president, said he deserves credit for the role he played in peacekeeping in the region, securing the latest South Sudan peace deal.
He said Bashir noting he played an important role in the South Sudan peace agreement and his efforts should be appreciated.
“President Omar Bashir was co-guarantor for the peace agreement of South Sudan, he has played a very critical role (for) which we are very grateful and his asylum in Uganda is something we can consider,” the minister told journalists in Uganda.
Oryem called out Sudan’s military council to take note of the wishes of the people. He said Uganda is keeping a close watch on developments in Khartoum and is interested in seeing a peaceful transition there.
Bashir’s three-decade reign was ousted last week by top military commanders after four months of mass demonstrations. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan made the announcement that al-Bashir was arrested following his deposition. While the military council confirmed Bashir remains in custody, it refrained to specify his whereabouts or that of other senior regime leaders.
Notably, Bashir has been wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in Darfur since 2005, in which an estimated 400,000 people died.
Sudan’s military council on Monday said the decision to extradite Bashir and other ICC suspects would be taken by a popularly elected civilian government. It currently remains unknown if the former president would be handed over to the International Criminal Court.
Protesters have continued to pile up pressure on the military, demanding a quick return to civilian rule among other demands.
