Red Cross youth delegates in Sudan and ICC Ruling

The International Criminal Court (the court which hunts war criminals) have endicted President Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. Now that they have decided to charge the president with crimes against humanity and  two cases of war crimes, it is the first endictment of a sitting government head in history. And a warrant for his arrest has been 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 newspapers VG and Dagbladet you can follow the situation in Sudan:

VG     VG     Dagbladet     Dagbladet     Dagbladet     + Alertnet (Reuters)

VG     VG     Dagbladet     Dagbladet                            + Al Jazeera International

We live on the other side of Sudan by the Red Sea in the most important harbor city to Sudan, Port Sudan. 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. And rally trucks driving around with messages from speakers on the roof. The capital Khartoum is considered a much less safer place the next following weeks. The army and intelligens authorities is said to be at highest alert level. Allthough the international comunity has its doubts about the security provided by the very government who has two members charged with crimes by the ICC. And in addition is the head of Janjaweed militia, said to be in line with government on Darfur issue, has also an arrest warrent out on him.

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. Sudans currency has remained strong through all of these events over the last years, it is said.

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 violent happens. Only the protests.

All the best

Thomas