The International Criminal Court (the court which hunts war criminals) are to endict President Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. If they do decide to charge the president with genocide and the eight other alleged cases of war crimes, it will be the first endictment of a sitting government head in history. And a warrant for his arrest will be issued. The Justice and Equality Movement (a Darfur rebel army) has woved to get Bashir "by all means necessary" if this arrest warrant is issued.
In the norwegian newspaper Dagbladet you can read all the news on this by following this link: http://www.dagbladet.no/sport/2008/08/07/542939.html and VG by this link: http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=548491
Me and my co-youth delegate Anine has been given orders to be accompanied by a volunteer or staff from the Sudanese Red Crescent at all times outside our home. This is from now until the consequences and reactions have come to a steady again.
It is no visual signs of trouble in the city of Port Sudan yet, exept a little more troop activity maybe. The capital Khartoum is considered a much less safer place the next following weeks, espescially after 17.february. The army and intelligens authorities is said to be at highest alert level.
There are also indications that nothing happens. When Sudan was kicked out of the International Monetary Fund in the 90`s, it was said to be chaos here. But nothing happened, it was buisness as usual, literally.
So we are facing a interesting time ahead of us. Visa`s in and out of Sudan (for vacation) as well as travelpermits to drive across state and country could be alot harder to get. This depends on the level of hostility towards foreigners from the government.
I feel safe and think I am in a very little dramatic part of the country "action vice". Our international body, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IFRC, and the Sudanese Red Crescent is all at the ready together with us if, against our beliefs, something should happen. In worse case we will be evacuated effectively. Most likely nothing happens. Exept maybe some protests.
All the best
Thomas