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{{Short description|President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019}} {{Redirect|al-Bashir|other people with the name|Bashir (name)|other uses|Bashir (disambiguation){{!}}Bashir}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | native_name = {{nobold|عمر البشير}} | native_name_lang = ar | image = Omar al-Bashir, 12th AU Summit, 090202-N-0506A-137 cropped.jpg | caption = Al-Bashir in 2009 | office = 4th [[President of Sudan]] | vicepresident = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|''See list''}} |'''First Vice Presidents''' |[[Zubair Mohamed Salih]] |[[Ali Osman Taha]] |[[John Garang]] |[[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] |[[Ali Osman Taha]] |[[Bakri Hassan Saleh]] |[[Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf]] |'''Second Vice Presidents''' |[[George Kongor Arop]] |[[Moses Kacoul Machar]] |[[Ali Osman Taha]] |[[Al-Haj Adam Youssef]] |[[Hassabu Mohamed Abdalrahman|Hassabu Mohd. Abdalrahman]] |[[Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir]] }} | primeminister = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|''See list''}} |[[Bakri Hassan Saleh]] |[[Motazz Moussa]] |[[Mohamed Tahir Ayala]] }} | term_start = 16 October 1993 | term_end = 11 April 2019 | predecessor = ''Himself''<br/>(as Chairman of the RCC) | successor = [[Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf]]<br/>(as Chairman of the [[Transitional Military Council (2019)|Transitional Military Council]]) | office1 = Chairman of the [[Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation]] | termstart1 = 30 June 1989 | termend1 = 16 October 1993 | predecessor1 = [[Ahmed al-Mirghani]] (as President) | successor1 = ''Himself'' (as President) | deputy1 = [[Zubair Mohamed Salih]] | birth_name = {{nobr|Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1944|1|1}} | birth_place = [[Hosh Bannaga]],<br/>[[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]] | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[National Congress Party (Sudan)|National Congress Party]] (1992{{nbnd}}2019) | spouse = {{ubl|Fatima Khalid|Widad Babiker Omer}} | alma_mater = [[Egyptian Military College]] | allegiance = {{flagu|Sudan}} | branch = {{Flagdeco|Sudan}} [[Sudanese Army]] | branch_label = Branch | serviceyears = 1960–2019 | serviceyears_label = Service years | rank = [[File:Sudan Army - OF10.svg|20px]] [[Field Marshal]] | battles = {{plainlist| *[[First Sudanese Civil War]] *[[Yom Kippur War]] *[[First Congo War]] *[[Second Sudanese Civil War]] *[[War in Darfur]] *[[Heglig Crisis]]}} | battles_label = Conflicts | module = {{Infobox |child=yes |headerstyle=background:lavender; | header1 = Criminal details {{Infobox criminal|child=yes |conviction = [[Money laundering]] <br/> [[Corruption]] |victims = |criminal_status = Claimed by [[International Criminal Court|ICC]] |penalty = Two years in prison |imprisoned = Incarcerated at the [[Kobar Prison]], [[Khartoum]], [[Sudan]] |apprehended = 17 April 2019 }}}} }} {{Omar al-Bashir sidebar}} '''Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir'''{{efn|{{langx|ar|عمر حسن أحمد البشير|ʿUmar Ḥasan ʾAḥmad al-Bashīr}}, pronounced {{IPA|ar|ba'ʃiːr|}};<ref>{{cite web|title=Sudan's Omar Al-Bashir attends Mid-East's Largest Arms Fair|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mdGRXwlTeU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9mdGRXwlTeU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|date=1 March 2015|work=BBC News|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}} (born 1 January 1944) is a Sudanese former military officer and politician who served as [[Head of state of Sudan|Sudan's head of state]] under various titles from 1989 until 2019, when he was deposed in [[2019 Sudanese coup d'état|a coup d'état]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47852496|title=Sudan coup: Why Omar al-Bashir was overthrown|date=15 April 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=21 January 2021|archive-date=4 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104002907/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47852496|url-status=live}}</ref> He was subsequently incarcerated, tried and convicted on multiple corruption charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/omar-al-bashir-trial-justice-delivered-190823182515842.html|title=Omar al-Bashir on trial: Will justice be delivered?|work=Al Jazeera|first=Linah|last=Alsaafin|date=24 August 2019|access-date=21 January 2021|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124192936/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/8/24/omar-al-bashir-on-trial-will-justice-be-delivered|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Omar al-Bashir: Sudan ex-leader sentenced for corruption |date=14 December 2019 |newspaper=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50794096 |access-date=15 December 2019 |archive-date=14 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214225022/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50794096 |url-status=live }}</ref> Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 when, as a [[brigadier general]] in the [[Sudanese Army]], he led a group of officers in [[1989 Sudanese coup d'état|a military coup]] that ousted the democratically elected government of prime minister [[Sadiq al-Mahdi]] after it began negotiations with rebels in the south; he subsequently replaced President [[Ahmed al-Mirghani]] as head of state.<ref name=reuters-factbox>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL1435274220080714|title=FACTBOX – Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=16 July 2008|date=14 July 2008|archive-date=2 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202132147/http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL1435274220080714|url-status=live}}</ref> He was elected three times as president in elections that have been under scrutiny for [[electoral fraud]].<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8645661.stm|title=Dream election result for Sudan's President Bashir|work=BBC News|date=27 April 2010|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225223024/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8645661.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1992, al-Bashir founded the [[National Congress Party (Sudan)|National Congress Party]], which remained the dominant political party in the country until 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/africa/live-news/sudan-latest-updates#h_273cb018352361935737f51e56875bec|title=Sudan's government has been dissolved|author1=Eliza Mackintosh|author2=James Griffiths|date=11 April 2019|website=CNN|access-date=19 September 2019|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713162003/https://edition.cnn.com/africa/live-news/sudan-latest-updates/h_273cb018352361935737f51e56875bec|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2009, al-Bashir became the first sitting head of state to be [[International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur#Omar al-Bashir|indicted by the International Criminal Court]] (ICC), for allegedly directing a campaign of mass killing, rape, and pillage against civilians in [[Darfur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/genocide-in-sudan.htm|title=Genocide in Darfur|work=United Human Rights Council|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225223027/http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/genocide-in-sudan.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 February 2020, the [[Government of Sudan]] announced that it had agreed to hand over al-Bashir to the [[International Criminal Court|ICC]] for trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/c6698024bdd7f1cade89b9b4101d25c1|title=Official: Sudan to hand over al-Bashir for genocide trial|work=AP News|first=Samy|last=Magdy|date=11 February 2020|access-date=12 February 2020|archive-date=12 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212090956/https://apnews.com/c6698024bdd7f1cade89b9b4101d25c1|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2005, al-Bashir's government negotiated an end to the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]],<ref name="South Sudan profile">{{cite news|title=South Sudan profile|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019202|work=BBC News|date=5 July 2011|access-date=14 March 2013|archive-date=7 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307201416/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019202|url-status=live}}</ref> leading to a referendum in the south, resulting in the separation of the south as the country of [[South Sudan]]. In the Darfur region, he oversaw the [[War in Darfur]] that resulted in death tolls of around 10,000 according to the Sudanese Government,<ref name=disputed>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23848444|title=Death toll disputed in Darfur|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=28 March 2008|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=20 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020200514/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23848444/ns/world_news-africa/t/death-toll-disputed-darfur|url-status=live}}</ref> but most sources suggest between 200,000<ref name="conflict1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm|work=BBC News|title=Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict|date=23 February 2010|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=14 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414191135/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and 400,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sudan/|title=Africa :: Sudan — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|date=2 November 2021|access-date=24 January 2021|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111020040/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sudan/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200511/28/eng20051128_224254.html|title=Darfur peace talks to resume in Abuja on Tuesday: AU|work=People's Daily Online|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-date=30 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130024056/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200511/28/eng20051128_224254.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041001775.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=Hundreds Killed in Attacks in Eastern Chad|date=11 April 2007|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516113135/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041001775.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During his presidency, there were several violent struggles between the [[Janjaweed]] militia and rebel groups such as the [[Sudan Liberation Movement/Army|Sudanese Liberation Army]] (SLA) and the [[Justice and Equality Movement]] (JEM) in the form of [[guerrilla warfare]] in the Darfur region. The civil war displaced<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/15/AR2006101500655.html|title=AUF Ineffective, Complain Refugees in Darfur|access-date=4 March 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=16 October 2006|author=Alfred de Montesquiou|author-link=Alfred de Montesquiou|archive-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516113104/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/15/AR2006101500655.html|url-status=live}}</ref> over {{Nowrap|2.5 million people}} out of a total population of 6.2 million in Darfur<ref>[http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sudan_darfuroverview.html Darfur – overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411135329/https://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sudan_darfuroverview.html |date=11 April 2019 }}, unicef.org.</ref> and created a crisis in [[Chad–Sudan relations|the diplomatic relations]] between [[Sudan]] and [[Chad]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7394422.stm|work=BBC News|title=Sudan cuts Chad ties over attack|date=11 May 2008|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930114917/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7394422.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The rebels in Darfur lost the support from [[Libya]] after the death of [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and the collapse of his regime in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Copnall|first=James|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15471734|title=Sudan armed Libyan rebels, says President Bashir|work=BBC News|date=26 November 2011|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=16 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416055748/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15471734|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|agency=Reuters|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/libya-leader-thanks-sudan-for-weapons-that-helped-former-rebels-oust-gadhafi-1.397764|title=Libya leader thanks Sudan for weapons that helped former rebels oust Gadhafi|work=[[Haaretz]]|date=26 November 2011|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120124544/http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/libya-leader-thanks-sudan-for-weapons-that-helped-former-rebels-oust-gadhafi-1.397764|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html|title= Sudan: Country Studies|publisher= Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]]|date= 22 March 2011|access-date= 30 October 2013|archive-date= 30 June 2012|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120630181108/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sdtoc.html|url-status= live}}</ref> In July 2008, the prosecutor of the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC), [[Luis Moreno Ocampo]], accused al-Bashir of [[genocide]], [[crimes against humanity]], and [[war crime]]s in Darfur.<ref name=ocampo>{{cite web|url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/press%20releases%20(2008)|title=ICC Prosecutor presents case against Sudanese President, Hassan Ahmad AL BASHIR, for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur|access-date=14 March 2009|author=International Criminal Court|author-link=International Criminal Court|date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825232557/http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/press%20releases%20%282008%29/a|archive-date=25 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The court issued an [[arrest warrant]] for al-Bashir on {{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009 on counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him for genocide.<ref name=ICC-warrant/><ref name=BBC1>{{cite news|work=BBC News|date=4 March 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7923102.stm|title=Warrant issued for Sudan's Bashir|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=9 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109130542/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7923102.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> However, on 12 July 2010, the court issued a second warrant containing three separate counts of genocide. The new warrant, like the first, was delivered to the [[Politics of Sudan|Sudanese government]], which did not recognize either the warrant or the ICC.<ref name=BBC1/> The indictments did not allege that Bashir personally took part in such activities; instead, they said that he was "suspected of being criminally responsible, as an indirect co-perpetrator".<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news|author=Simon Tisdall|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/20/omar-al-bashir-sudan-darfur|title=Omar al-Bashir: genocidal mastermind or bringer of peace?|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=20 April 2011|access-date=3 November 2013|author-link=Simon Tisdall|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104194606/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/20/omar-al-bashir-sudan-darfur|url-status=live}}</ref> The court's decision was opposed by the [[African Union]], [[Arab League]] and [[Non-Aligned Movement]] as well as the governments of Libya, [[Somalia]], [[Jordan]], [[Turkey]], [[Egypt]], South Sudan, [[Djibouti]], [[Eritrea]], [[Pakistan]], [[Algeria]], [[Iraq]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Kuwait]], [[Oman]], [[Palestine]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Tunisia]], [[Morocco]], [[Lebanon]], [[Bahrain]], [[Qatar]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/542156/-/item/1/-/io2xh7/-/index.html|title=After Bashir warrant, Sudan united in protest|author=HENRY OWUOR in Khartoum|date=5 March 2009|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313202453/http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/542156/-/item/1/-/io2xh7/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34665.pdf|title=International Criminal Court Cases in Africa: Status and Policy Issues|access-date=25 May 2018|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060952/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34665.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> From December 2018 onwards, al-Bashir faced [[Sudanese Revolution|large-scale protests]] which demanded his removal from power. On 11 April 2019, Bashir was [[2019 Sudanese coup d'état|ousted]] in a military coup d'état.<ref name="ThReut_BashirResigns_11April2019">{{cite web |last1=Abdelaziz|first1=Khalid |first2=Ali |last2=Abdelaty |first3=Mohamed |last3=El Sherif |first4=Yousef |last4=Saba |first5=Michelle |last5=Nichols |first6=Sami |last6=Aboudi |first7=Aidan |last7=Lewis |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics/sudans-bashir-forced-to-step-down-sources-say-idUSKCN1RN0AY|title=Sudan's Bashir Forced to Step Down|date=11 April 2019|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=11 April 2019|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191219204025/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics/sudans-bashir-forced-to-step-down-sources-say-idUSKCN1RN0AY|archive-date=19 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hassan |first1=Mai |last2=Kodouda |first2=Ahmed |date=11 October 2019 |title=Sudan's Uprising: The Fall of a Dictator |url=https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/sudans-uprising-the-fall-of-a-dictator/ |journal=Journal of Democracy |language=en |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=89–103 |doi=10.1353/jod.2019.0071 |issn=1086-3214 |doi-access=|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In September 2019, Bashir was replaced by the [[Transitional Military Council (2019)|Transitionary Military Council]] which transferred executive power to a mixed civilian–military [[Sovereignty Council of Sudan|Sovereignty Council]] and a civilian prime minister, [[Abdalla Hamdok]]. Two months later, the [[Forces of Freedom and Change]] alliance (which holds indirect political power during the [[2019 Sudanese transition to democracy|39-month Sudanese transition to democracy]]), Hamdok, and Sovereignty Council member [[Siddiq Tawer]] stated that Bashir would be eventually transferred to the ICC. He was convicted of corruption in December of that year and sentenced to two years in prison.<ref name="Dabanga_FCC_Bashir2ICC" /><ref name="SudTrib_Hamdok_Bashir2ICC" /><ref name="SudTrib_Tawer_Bashir_handover" /> His trial regarding his role in the coup that brought him into power started on 21 July 2020.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53474152|title=Sudan's ex-President Bashir on trial for 1989 coup|work=BBC News|date=21 July 2020|access-date=28 July 2020|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201175119/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53474152|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Early and family life== Al-Bashir was born on 1 January 1944 in [[Hosh Bannaga]],<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2021 |title=The Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir |url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CaseInformationSheets/AlBashirEng.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424001821/https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CaseInformationSheets/AlBashirEng.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2023 |publisher=[[International Criminal Court]]}}</ref> a village on the outskirts of [[Shendi]], just north of the capital, [[Khartoum]], to a family that hails from the [[Ja'alin tribe]] of northern [[Sudan]]. His mother was Hedieh Mohamed al-Zain, who died in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfha1.com/34720 |title=البشير يحضر جنازة والدته وسط حراسة أمنية مشددة |website=صفحة أولى |trans-title=Al-Bashir attends his mother's funeral amid tight security |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730231552/https://www.sfha1.com/34720 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sudannews365.org/27796 |title=البشير يحضر مراسم دفن والدته.. وجدل على 'تويتر' |trans-title=Al-Bashir attends his mother's burial ceremony ... and controversy on Twitter |website=السودان نيوز 365 |date=30 July 2019 |access-date=25 August 2019 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124191319/https://www.sudannews365.org/27796/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b4%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d9%8a%d8%ad%d8%b6%d8%b1-%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b3%d9%85-%d8%af%d9%81%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%af%d8%aa%d9%87-%d9%88%d8%ac%d8%af%d9%84-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%aa%d8%b1 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watan-day.com/news/61028.html |title=البشير يحضر مراسم دفن والدته |trans-title=Al-Bashir attending his mother's burial ceremony |date=30 July 2019 |access-date=30 July 2019|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730231551/https://watan-day.com/news/61028.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> His father, Hassan ibn Ahmed, was a smalltime dairy farmer. He is the second among twelve brothers and sisters, his younger brother Othman was killed in South Sudan during his presidency.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fanack |date=2020-02-12 |title=الرئيس عمر البشير |trans-title=President Omar al-Bashir |url=https://fanack.com/ar/faces-ar/omar-al-bashir~108290/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316011215/https://fanack.com/ar/faces-ar/omar-al-bashir~108290/ |archive-date=2023-03-16 |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=وقائع الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا |language=ar}}</ref> His uncle, [[Al Taib Mustafa]], was a journalist, politician, and noted opponent of South Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://aawsat.com/home/article/2976541/%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86|title=وفاة خال البشير... أبرز خصوم جنوب السودان |trans-title=The death of Al-Bashir's uncle... the most prominent opponent of South Sudan |work=Asharq Al-Awsat|date=2021-05-16|access-date=2021-12-06|language=ar|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516234149/https://aawsat.com/home/article/2976541/%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86|url-status=live}}</ref> As a boy, he was nicknamed 'Omeira' – Little Omar.<ref name="early">{{cite book|title=Omar Al-Bashir and Africa's Longest War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_X-uCAAAQBAJ&dq=hosh+bannaga&pg=PP96|publisher=United Kingdom: Pen & Sword Books|date=April 30, 2015|last=Moorcraft|first=Paul| isbn=9781473854963 |access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124191328/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Omar_Al_Bashir_and_Africa_s_Longest_War/_X-uCAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hosh+bannaga&pg=PP96&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref> He belongs to the [[Bedaria tribe|Banu Bedaria]], a [[Bedouin]] tribe belonging to the larger [[Ja'alin]] coalition,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16010445|title=Omar al-Bashir: Sudan's ousted president|website=BBC|date=14 August 2019|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023001523/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16010445|url-status=live}}</ref> a [[Sudanese Arabs|Sudanese Arab]] tribe in middle north of Sudan (once a part of the [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan]]). As a child, Al-Bashir loved [[Association football|football]]. "Always in defense," a cousin of Omar's said. "That's why he went into the army." He received his primary education [[Sudanese Military College|there]], and his family later moved to [[Khartoum North]] where he completed his secondary education and became a supporter of [[Al-Hilal Club (Omdurman)|Al-Hilal]]. Al-Bashir is married to his cousin Fatima Khalid. He also has a [[Polygamy#Africa|second wife]] named Widad Babiker Omer, who had a number of children with her first husband Ibrahim Shamsaddin, a member of the [[Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation]] who had died in a helicopter crash. Al-Bashir does not have any children of his own.<ref>{{cite news|author=Fred Bridgland|title=President Bashir, you are hereby charged...|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/world/President-Bashir-you-are-hereby.4287299.jp|work=[[The Scotsman]]|date=14 July 2008|access-date=15 July 2008|author-link=Fred Bridgland|archive-date=2 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202054304/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/world/President-Bashir-you-are-hereby.4287299.jp|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="early" /> In 1975, al-Bashir was sent to the [[United Arab Emirates]] as the Sudanese [[military attaché]]. When he returned home, al-Bashir was made a garrison commander. In 1981, al-Bashir returned to his paratroop background when he became the commander of an armored parachute brigade.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/03/20093485834634368|title=Profile: Omar al-Bashir|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=24 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224040606/http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/03/20093485834634368|url-status=live}}</ref> The Sudanese Ministry of Defense website says that al-Bashir was in the Western Command from 1967 to 1969 and then the Airborne Forces from 1969 to 1987 until he was appointed commander of the 8th Infantry Brigade (independent) from the period 1987 to 30 June 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mod.gov.sd/section-blog/25-قادة-القوات-المسلحة.html|title=Example of Section Blog layout (FAQ section)|date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417163651/http://mod.gov.sd/section-blog/25-قادة-القوات-المسلحة.html|archive-date=17 April 2014}}</ref> ==Presidency== ===Coup d'état=== {{main|1989 Sudanese coup d'état}} [[File:Omar al-Bashir 1989.jpg|thumb|Omar al-Bashir in 1989]] When he returned to Sudan as a colonel in the [[Military of Sudan|Sudanese Army]], al-Bashir led a group of army officers in ousting the unstable coalition government of Prime Minister [[Sadiq al-Mahdi]] in a bloodless [[coup d'état|military coup]] on {{Nowrap|30 June}} 1989.<ref name=reuters-factbox/> Under al-Bashir's leadership, the new military government suspended political parties and introduced an Islamic legal code on the national level.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bekele|first=Yilma|title=Chickens are coming home to roost!|url=http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2929|work=[[Ethiopian Review]]|date=12 July 2008|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-date=31 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231092713/http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2929|url-status=live}}</ref> He then became chairman of the [[Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation]] (a newly established body with legislative and executive powers for what was described as a transitional period), and assumed the posts of [[chief of state]], prime minister, chief of the armed forces, and [[Minister of Defence (Sudan)|Minister of Defence]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Cowell|first=Alan|title=Military Coup in Sudan Ousts Civilian Regime|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DA103DF932A35754C0A96F948260|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1 July 1989|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-date=2 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802230109/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DA103DF932A35754C0A96F948260|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequent to al-Bashir's promotion to the chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation, he allied himself with [[Hassan al-Turabi]], the leader of the [[National Islamic Front]], who, along with al-Bashir, began institutionalizing [[Sharia|Sharia law]] in the northern part of Sudan. Further on, al-Bashir issued purges and executions of people whom he alleged to be coup leaders in the upper ranks of the army, the banning of associations, political parties, and independent newspapers, as well as the imprisonment of leading political figures and journalists.<ref>Kepel, ''Jihad'' (2002), p.181</ref> On 16 October 1993, al-Bashir's increased his power when he appointed himself [[List of Presidents of Sudan|President]] of the country, after which he disbanded the [[Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation]] and all other rival political parties. The executive and legislative powers of the council were later given to al-Bashir completely.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/14/sudan.warcrimes3|work=The Guardian|location=London|title=Profile: Omar al-Bashir|first=Peter|last=Walker|date=14 July 2008|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902130504/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/14/sudan.warcrimes3|url-status=live}}</ref> In the early 1990s, al-Bashir's administration gave the green light to float a new currency called [[Sudanese dinar]] to replace the battered old [[Sudanese pound]] that had lost 90 percent of its worth during the turbulent 1980s; the currency was later changed back to pounds, but at a much higher rate. He was later elected president (with a five-year term) in the [[1996 Sudanese general election|1996 national election]], where he was the only candidate legally allowed to run for election.<ref name="ReferenceB">''New York Times'', {{Nowrap|16 March}} 1996, p.4</ref> ===Elections=== Omar al-Bashir was elected president (with a five-year term) in the 1996 national election<ref name="ReferenceB"/> and [[Hassan al-Turabi]] was elected to a seat in the National Assembly where he served as speaker of the National Assembly "during the 1990s".<ref name=appendix>The Appendix of the ''[[9/11 Commission Report]]''</ref> In 1998, al-Bashir and the Presidential Committee put into effect a new constitution, allowing limited political associations in opposition to al-Bashir's [[National Congress Party (Sudan)|National Congress Party]] and his supporters to be formed. On {{Nowrap|12 December}} 1999, al-Bashir sent troops and tanks against parliament and ousted [[Hassan al-Turabi]], the speaker of parliament, in a [[palace coup]].<ref name="Stefano Bellucci 2000">Stefano Bellucci, "Islam and Democracy: The 1999 Palace Coup", ''Middle East Policy'' 7, no. 3 (June 2000):168</ref> He was reelected by popular vote for a five-year term during the [[2000 Sudanese general election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://workmall.com/wfb2001/sudan/sudan_government.html|title=Sudan Government 2001 – Flags, Maps, Economy, Geography, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System|publisher=Workmall.com|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=16 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516114120/http://workmall.com/wfb2001/sudan/sudan_government.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2005 to 2010, a transitional government was set up under a 2005 peace accord that ended the 21-year long [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] and saw the formation of a power-sharing agreement between [[Salva Kiir Mayardit|Salva Kiir]]'s [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]] (SPLM) and al Bashir's [[National Congress (Sudan)|National Congress Party]] (NCP).<ref name="aljazeera.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2010/04/201042612282143933.html|title=Sudan president wins re-election|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=27 April 2010|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=28 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128193345/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2010/04/201042612282143933.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Bashir was reelected president in the [[2010 Sudanese general election]] with 68% of the popular vote;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/202/ |title=IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Sudan |publisher=Electionguide.org |access-date=30 October 2013 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122832/http://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/202/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while Salva Kiir was [[2010 Southern Sudanese general election|elected President of Southern Sudan]]. These elections were agreed on earlier in the 2005 peace accord.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> The election was marked by corruption, intimidation, and inequality. European observers, from the [[European Union]] and the [[Carter Center]], criticised the polls as "not meeting international standards". Candidates opposed to the SPLM said they were often detained or stopped from campaigning. Sudan Democracy First, an umbrella organisation in the north, put forward what it called strong evidence of rigging by al-Bashir's NCP. The Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (Sunde) spoke of harassment and intimidation in the south, by the security forces of the SPLM.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk" /> Al-Bashir had achieved economic growth in Sudan.<ref name="Gettleman">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/world/africa/24sudan.html|work=The New York Times|title=War in Sudan? Not Where the Oil Wealth Flows|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|date=24 October 2006|access-date=20 May 2010|author-link=Jeffrey Gettleman|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511233015/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/world/africa/24sudan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was pushed further by the drilling and extraction of oil-<ref name="Gettleman"/> However, economic growth was not shared by all. Headline inflation in 2012 approached the threshold of chronic inflation (period average 36%), about 11% up from the budget projection of 2012 reflecting the combined effects of inflationary financing, the depreciation of the exchange rate, and the continued removal of subsidies, as well as high food and energy prices. This economic downturn prompted cost of living riots that erupted into [[Arab Spring]]-style anti-government demonstrations, raising discontent within the [[Sudanese Workers' Trade Union Federation]] (SWTUF). They threatened to hold nationwide strikes in support of higher wages. The continued deterioration in the value of the Sudanese pound (SDG) posed grave downside risks to already soaring inflation. This, coupled with the economic slowdown, presents serious challenges to the implementation of the approved Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/sudan/|title=Sudan|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218210329/http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/sudan/|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Tensions with Hassan al-Turabi=== In the mid-1990s, a feud between al-Bashir and al-Turabi began, mostly due to al-Turabi's links to [[Islamic fundamentalism|Islamic fundamentalist]] groups, as well as allowing them to operate out of Sudan, even personally inviting [[Osama bin Laden]] to the country.<ref>{{Cite news|last = Shahzad|title = Bin Laden uses Iraq to plot new attacks|work = Asia Times|access-date = 2 December 2007|date = 23 February 2002|url = http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DB23Ag02.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021020093406/http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DB23Ag02.html|url-status = unfit|archive-date = 20 October 2002}}</ref> The [[United States]] had listed Sudan as a [[State Sponsors of Terrorism|state sponsor of terrorism]] since 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/families-of-uss-cole-victims-sue-sudan-for-105-million|title=Families of USS Cole Victims Sue Sudan for $105 Million|work=Fox News|date=25 March 2015 |access-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106163604/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258413,00.html|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> mostly due to al-Bashir and Hassan al-Turabi taking complete power in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DB23Ag02.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021020093406/http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DB23Ag02.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=2002-10-20|title=Bin Laden uses Iraq to plot new attacks|work=atimes.com}}</ref> [[United States|U.S]]. firms have been barred from doing business in Sudan since 1997.<ref>{{Cite news| last = Spetalnick| first = Matt| title = U.S. lifts Sudan sanctions, wins commitment against arms deals with North Korea| work = Reuters| access-date = 25 May 2018| date = 7 October 2017| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-usa-sanctions/u-s-lifts-sanctions-on-sudan-official-idUSKBN1CB26Q| archive-date = 19 March 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180319102510/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-usa-sanctions/u-s-lifts-sanctions-on-sudan-official-idUSKBN1CB26Q| url-status = live}}</ref> In 1998, the [[Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory]] in [[Khartoum]] was destroyed by a U.S. [[cruise missile]] strike because of its alleged production of [[chemical weapon]]s and links to [[al-Qaeda]]. However the U.S. State Department [[Bureau of Intelligence and Research]] wrote a report in 1999 questioning the attack on the factory, suggesting that the connection to bin Laden was not accurate; James Risen reported in ''[[The New York Times]]'': "Now, the analysts renewed their doubts and told Assistant Secretary of State [[Phyllis Oakley]] that the C.I.A.'s evidence on which the attack was based was inadequate. Ms. Oakley asked them to double-check; perhaps there was some intelligence they had not yet seen. The answer came back quickly: There was no additional evidence. Ms. Oakley called a meeting of key aides and a consensus emerged: Contrary to what the Administration was saying, the case tying Al Shifa to Mr. bin Laden or to chemical weapons was weak."<ref>{{cite web|author=Risen, James|date=27 October 1999|title=To Bomb Sudan Plant, or Not: A Year Later, Debates Rankle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/world/africa/102799us-sudan.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 July 2017|archive-date=5 October 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005085235/https://www.nytimes.com/library/world/africa/102799us-sudan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After being re-elected president of Sudan with a five-year-term in the [[1996 Sudanese general election|1996 election]] with 75.7% of the popular vote,<ref name=BBCprofile>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3273569.stm|work=BBC News|title=Profile: Sudan's President Bashir|date=25 November 2003|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117094125/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3273569.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> al-Bashir issued the registration of legalized political parties in 1999 after being influenced by al-Turabi. Rival parties such as the [[Liberal Democrats (Sudan)|Liberal Democrats of Sudan]] and the Alliance of the Peoples' Working Forces, headed by former Sudanese President [[Gaafar Nimeiry]], were established and were allowed to run for election against al-Bashir's [[National Congress Party (Sudan)|National Congress Party]], however, they failed to achieve significant support, and al-Bashir was re-elected president, receiving 86.5% of the popular vote in the [[2000 Sudanese general election|2000 presidential election]]. At the [[2000 Sudanese general election|legislative elections]] that same year, al-Bashir's National Congress Party won 355 out of 360 seats, with al-Turabi as its chairman. However, after al-Turabi introduced a bill to reduce the president's powers, prompting al-Bashir to dissolve parliament and declare a [[state of emergency]], tensions began to rise between al-Bashir and al-Turabi. Reportedly, al-Turabi was suspended as chairman of National Congress Party, after he urged a boycott of the president's re-election campaign. Then, a splinter-faction led by al-Turabi, the Popular National Congress Party (PNC) signed an agreement with [[Sudan People's Liberation Army]], which led al-Bashir to believe that they were plotting to overthrow him and the government.<ref name="BBCprofile"/> Further on, al-Turabi's influence and that of his party's "'internationalist' and ideological wing" waned "in favor of the 'nationalist' or more pragmatic leaders who focus on trying to recover from Sudan's disastrous [[international isolation]] and economic damage that resulted from ideological adventurism".<ref>Fuller, ''The Future of Political Islam'', (2003), p.111</ref> At the same time, Sudan worked to appease the United States and other international critics by expelling members of [[Egyptian Islamic Jihad]] and encouraging bin Laden to leave.<ref>Wright, ''The Looming Tower'', (2006), pp.221–3</ref> On al-Bashir's orders, al-Turabi was imprisoned based on allegations of conspiracy in 2000 before being released in October 2003.<ref name=Denies>Wasil Ali, [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article27123 "Sudanese Islamist opposition leader denies link with Darfur rebels"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412093622/https://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article27123 |date=12 April 2020 }}, ''Sudan Tribune'', {{Nowrap|13 May}} 2008.</ref> Al-Turabi was again imprisoned in March 2004<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3190770.stm|title=Profile: Sudan's Islamist leader|date=15 January 2009|work=BBC|access-date=15 December 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215012239/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3190770.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and released in July 2005, at the height of the peace agreement in the civil war.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSJoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1521|title=Political Handbook of the World 2018–2019|last=Lansford|first=Tom|date=19 March 2019|publisher=CQ Press|isbn=978-1-5443-2713-6|language=en|access-date=15 December 2019|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124191315/https://books.google.com/books?id=oSJoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1521|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090309-head-opposition-backs-iccs-arrest-warrant-bashir-|title=Head of opposition backs ICC's arrest warrant for Bashir|date=9 March 2009|work=France 24|access-date=15 December 2019|agency=AFP|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215012242/https://www.france24.com/en/20090309-head-opposition-backs-iccs-arrest-warrant-bashir-|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Engagement with the U.S. and European countries=== [[File:Al bashir1.jpg|thumb|Bashir and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State [[Robert Zoellick]], 2005]] From the early 1990s, after al-Bashir assumed power, Sudan backed [[Iraq]] in its [[Gulf War|invasion of Kuwait]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/04/world/sudanese-brigades-could-provide-key-aid-for-iraq-military-analysis.html|title=Sudanese Brigades Could Provide Key Aid for Iraq; Military Analysis|last=Middleton|first=Drew|date=4 October 1982|work=The New York Times|access-date=16 December 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208094106/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/04/world/sudanese-brigades-could-provide-key-aid-for-iraq-military-analysis.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/26/world/after-the-attacks-the-connection-iraqi-deal-with-sudan-on-nerve-gas-is-reported.html|title=After the Attacks: The Connection; Iraqi Deal with Sudan on Nerve Gas Is Reported|last=Perlez|first=Jane|date=26 August 1998|work=The New York Times|access-date=16 December 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216085731/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/26/world/after-the-attacks-the-connection-iraqi-deal-with-sudan-on-nerve-gas-is-reported.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and was accused of harboring and providing sanctuary and assistance to Islamic terrorist groups. [[Carlos the Jackal]], [[Osama bin Laden]], [[Abu Nidal]] and others labeled "terrorist leaders" by the United States and its allies resided in Khartoum. Sudan's role in the [[Popular Arab and Islamic Congress]] (PAIC), spearheaded by [[Hassan al-Turabi]], represented a matter of great concern to the security of American officials and dependents in Khartoum, resulting in several reductions and evacuations of American personnel from Khartoum in the early to mid 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sd.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/us-sudan-relations/|title=U.S. – Sudan Relations|website=U.S. Embassy in Sudan|language=en-US|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216085726/https://sd.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/us-sudan-relations/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sudan's Islamist links with international terrorist organizations represented a special matter of concern for the American government, leading to Sudan's 1993 designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and a suspension of U.S. Embassy operations in Khartoum in 1996. In late 1994, in an initial effort to reverse his nation's growing image throughout the world as a country harboring terrorists, Bashir secretly cooperated with French special forces to orchestrate the capture and arrest on Sudanese soil of [[Carlos the Jackal]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-08-21-mn-29612-story.html| title=Carlos the Jackal Reportedly Arrested During Liposuction| work=Los Angeles Times| date=21 August 1994| access-date=20 February 2020| archive-date=19 October 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019234524/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-21/news/mn-29612_1_carlos-the-jackal| url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Bashir letter to Hamilton.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sudan's offer of and request for counter-terrorism assistance, April 1997]] In early 1996, al-Bashir authorized his Defense Minister at the time, El Fatih Erwa, to make a series of secret trips to the United States<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/attacked/transcripts/sudanmemotext_100301.html|title=1996 CIA Memo to Sudanese Official|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=3 October 2001|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019143425/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/attacked/transcripts/sudanmemotext_100301.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to hold talks with American officials, including officers of the [[CIA]] and [[United States Department of State]] about American sanctions policy against Sudan and what measures might be taken by the Bashir regime to remove the sanctions. Erwa was presented with a series of demands from the United States, including demands for information about [[Osama bin Laden]] and other radical Islamic groups. The US demand list also encouraged Bashir's regime to move away from activities, such as hosting the Popular Arab and Islamic Congress, that impinged on Sudanese efforts to reconcile with the West. Sudan's Mukhabarat (central intelligence agency) spent half a decade amassing intelligence data on bin Laden and a wide array of Islamists through their periodic annual visits for the PAIC conferences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2002/01/osama200201|title=The Osama Files|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=January 2002|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=8 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008210904/http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2002/01/osama200201|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 1996, after the series of Erwa secret meetings on US soil, the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton Administration]] demanded that Sudan expel Bin Laden. Bashir complied.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a051896sudan|title=Sudan Expels Bin Laden|publisher=[[History Commons]]|date=18 May 1996|access-date=24 January 2014|archive-date=18 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218213251/http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a051896sudan|url-status=dead}}</ref> Controversy erupted about whether Sudan had offered to extradite bin Laden in return for rescinding American sanctions that were interfering with Sudan's plans to develop oil fields in southern areas of the country. American officials insisted the secret meetings were agreed only to pressure Sudan into compliance on a range of anti-terrorism issues. The Sudanese insisted that an offer to extradite bin Laden had been made in a secret one-on-one meeting at a [[Fairfax, Virginia|Fairfax]] hotel between Erwa and the then [[CIA]] Africa Bureau chief on condition that [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] end sanctions against Bashir's regime. Ambassador [[Timothy M. Carney]] attended one of the Fairfax hotel meetings. In a joint opinion piece in the Washington Post Outlook Section in 2003, Carney and Ijaz argued that in fact the Sudanese had offered to extradite bin Laden to a third country in exchange for sanctions relief.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64828-2002Jun29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124205748/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64828-2002Jun29|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 November 2011|title=Intelligence Failure? Let's Go Back to Sudan|last=Carney |first=Timothy|author2=Mansoor Ijaz |date=30 June 2002|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=1 December 2008|author2-link=Mansoor Ijaz}}</ref> In August 1996, American hedge-fund manager [[Mansoor Ijaz]] traveled to Sudan and met with senior officials including al-Turabi and al-Bashir. Ijaz asked Sudanese officials to share intelligence data with US officials on bin Laden and other Islamists who had traveled to and from Sudan during the previous five years. Ijaz conveyed his findings to US officials upon his return, including [[Sandy Berger]], then Clinton's deputy national security adviser, and argued for the US to constructively engage the Sudanese and other Islamic countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-718226.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611025526/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-718226.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2014 |title=Democratic Fundraiser Pursues Agenda on Sudan|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=29 April 1997}}</ref> In April 1997, Ijaz persuaded al-Bashir to make an unconditional offer of counterterrorism assistance in the form of a signed presidential letter that Ijaz delivered to Congressman [[Lee H. Hamilton]] by hand.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-30-me-27946-story.html|title=Olive Branch Ignored|first=Mansoor|last=Ijaz|work=Los Angeles Times|date=30 September 1998|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019234531/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/sep/30/local/me-27946|url-status=live}}</ref> In late September 1997, months after the Sudanese overture (made by al-Bashir in the letter to Hamilton), the U.S. State Department, under Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]]'s directive, first announced it would return American diplomats to Khartoum to pursue counterterrorism data in the [[Mukhabarat]]'s possession. Within days, the U.S. reversed that decision<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2002/06/30/intelligence-failure-lets-go-back-to-sudan/1b8e47a7-a603-4657-aef9-ffb4c4b83276/|title=Intelligence Failure? Let's Go Back to Sudan|last1=Carney|first1=Timothy|date=30 June 2002|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=17 December 2019|last2=Ijaz|first2=Mansoor|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=8 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808202843/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2002/06/30/intelligence-failure-lets-go-back-to-sudan/1b8e47a7-a603-4657-aef9-ffb4c4b83276/|url-status=live}}</ref> and imposed harsher and more comprehensive economic, trade, and financial sanctions against Sudan, which went into effect in October 1997.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Malik|first1=Mohamed|last2=Malik|first2=Malik|date=18 March 2015|title=The Efficacy of United States Sanctions on the Republic of Sudan|journal=Journal of Georgetown University-Qatar Middle Eastern Studies Student Association|language=en|volume=2015|issue=1|pages=3|doi=10.5339/messa.2015.7|issn=2311-8148}}</ref> In August 1998, in the wake of the [[1998 United States embassy bombings|East Africa embassy bombings]], the U.S. launched [[Operation Infinite Reach|cruise missile strikes]] against Khartoum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/US/9808/21/air.strikes.02/|title=Pakistan lodges protest over U.S. missile strikes|last1=McIntyre|first1=Jamie|last2=Koppel|first2=Andrea|date=21 August 1998|website=CNN|access-date=15 December 2019|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221172600/http://edition.cnn.com/US/9808/21/air.strikes.02/|url-status=dead}}</ref> U.S. Ambassador to Sudan, Tim Carney, departed post in February 1996<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/losingbinladen0000mini|url-access=registration|title=Losing Bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror|last=Miniter|first=Richard|date=1 August 2003|publisher=Regnery Publishing|isbn=978-0-89526-074-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/losingbinladen0000mini/page/114 114], 140|language=en}}</ref> and no new ambassador was designated until December 2019, when U.S. president [[Donald Trump]]'s administration reached an agreement with the new Sudanese government to exchange ambassadors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/us/politics/trump-sudan-diplomacy.html|title=Trump Administration Moves to Upgrade Diplomatic Ties With Sudan|last=Wong|first=Edward|date=4 December 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 December 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214110545/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/us/politics/trump-sudan-diplomacy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Bashir announced in August 2015 that he would travel to [[New York City|New York]] in September to speak at the [[United Nations]]. It was unclear to date if al-Bashir would have been allowed to travel, due to previous sanctions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/08/04/Omar-alBashir-to-speak-at-UN-Summit-in-New-York | title=Omar al-Bashir to speak at UN Summit in New York | work=Eyewitness News | access-date=5 August 2015 | archive-date=7 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807092147/http://ewn.co.za/2015/08/04/Omar-alBashir-to-speak-at-UN-Summit-in-New-York | url-status=live | agency=Reuters }}</ref> ===South Sudan=== {{main|Second Sudanese Civil War}} [[File:The coming vote - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|[[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum]]]] When al-Bashir took power the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] had been ongoing for nine years. The war soon effectively developed into a conflict between the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army]] and al-Bashir's government. The war resulted in millions of southerners being displaced, starved, and deprived of education and health care, with almost two million casualties.<ref>{{cite web|title=The U.S. Committee for Refugees Crisis in Sudan|url=http://www.refugees.org/news/crisis/sudan.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210024759/http://www.refugees.org/news/crisis/sudan.htm|archive-date=10 December 2004}}</ref> Because of these actions, various international sanctions were placed on Sudan. International pressure intensified in 2001, however, and leaders from the United Nations called for al-Bashir to make efforts to end the conflict and allow humanitarian and international workers to deliver relief to the southern regions of Sudan.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=J. Stephen |title=Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict |last2=de Waal |first2=Alex |date=1 March 2005 |publisher=[[United States Institute of Peace]] |isbn=978-1929223602 |editor-last=Crocker |editor-first=Chester A. |location=Washington, DC |page=162 |language=en |chapter=Can Sudan Escape its Intractability? |editor2-last=Hampson |editor2-first=Fen Osler |editor3-last=Aall |editor3-first=Pamela}}</ref> Much progress was made throughout 2003. The peace was consolidated with the official signing by both sides of the [[Naivasha Agreement|Nairobi Comprehensive Peace Agreement]] 9 January 2005, granting [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)|Southern Sudan autonomy]] for six years, to be followed by [[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum|a referendum on independence]]. It created a co-vice president position and allowed the north and south to split oil deposits equally, but also left both the north's and south's armies in place. [[John Garang]], the south's peace agreement appointed co-vice president, died in a helicopter crash on {{Nowrap|1 August}} 2005, three weeks after being sworn in.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4126370.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=Sudan bids rebel leader farewell|date=6 August 2005|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=25 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125014241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4126370.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in riots, but the peace was eventually re-established<ref>{{cite news|title=Peace prospects in Sudan|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=1761|agency=[[The New Humanitarian|IRIN]]|date=12 February 2004|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-date=2 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202164654/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=1761|url-status=dead}}</ref> and allowed the southerners to vote in a referendum of independence at the end of the six-year period.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sudanese flesh out final deal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3723812.stm|work=BBC News|date=7 October 2004|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124191318/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3723812.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 July 2011, following a referendum, the region of Southern Sudan split off from Sudan to form [[South Sudan]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/africa/10sudan.html|title=After Years of Struggle, South Sudan Becomes a New Nation|last=Gettleman|first=Jeffrey|date=9 July 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 December 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=19 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019161838/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/africa/10sudan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ===War in Darfur=== {{main|War in Darfur}} [[File:Darfur report - Page 4 Image 2.jpg|thumb|140px|Series of [[Water conflict|droughts in Darfur]] led to disputes over land between non-Arab sedentary farmers and Arab [[Janjaweed]] nomads (see illustrative photo).]] Since 1968, Sudanese politicians had attempted to create separate factions of "Africans" and "Arabs" in the western area of [[Darfur]], a difficult task as the population were substantially intermarried and could not be distinguished by skin tone. This internal political instability was aggravated by cross-border conflicts with [[Chad]] and [[Libya]]<ref>Prunier, G., ''The Ambiguous Genocide'', Ithaca, NY, 2005, pp. 42–44</ref> and the 1984–1985 Darfur famine.<ref>Prunier, pp. 47–52</ref> In 2003, the [[Justice and Equality Movement]] and the [[Sudanese Liberation Army]] –accusing the government of neglecting Darfur and oppressing non-Arabs in favor of Arabs – began an armed insurgency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/aec55c60-5c5f-11e9-9dde-7aedca0a081a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/aec55c60-5c5f-11e9-9dde-7aedca0a081a |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Bashir: Sudan's autocrat turned pariah leaves ruptured country|last=Pilling|first=David|date=11 April 2019|website=Financial Times|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Estimates vary of the number of deaths resulting from attacks on the non-Arab/Arabized population by the [[Janjaweed]] militia: the Sudanese government claim that up to 10,000 have been killed in this conflict; the United Nations reported that about 300,000 had died as of 2010,<ref name="conflict1"/> and other reports place the figures at between 200,000 and 400,000.<ref name=disputed/> During an interview with [[David Frost]] for the [[Al Jazeera English]] programme [[Frost Over The World]] in June 2008, al-Bashir insisted that no more than 10,000 had died in Darfur.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/frostovertheworld/2008/06/200862384837263451.html|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|title=Frost Over the World – Darfur special|date=21 September 2008|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-date=28 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128202620/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/frostovertheworld/2008/06/200862384837263451.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Sudanese government had been accused of suppressing information by jailing and killing witnesses since 2004, and tampering with evidence, such as covering up [[mass grave]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=The horrors of Darfur's ground zero|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21803054-2703,00.html|date=28 May 2007|work=[[The Australian]]|first1=A Mass|last1=Grave|access-date=18 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204164027/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21803054-2703,00.html|archive-date=4 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Darfur Destroyed – Summary|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/05/06/darfur-destroyed-0|date=7 May 2004|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-date=28 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628192004/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/05/06/darfur-destroyed-0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Darfur Destroyed – Destroying Evidence? |url=https://hrw.org/reports/2005/darfur1205/8.htm#_Toc121546245 |date=June 2004 |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |access-date=16 April 2020 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027033901/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2005/darfur1205/8.htm#_Toc121546245 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sudanese government has also arrested and harassed journalists, thus limiting the extent of press coverage of the situation in Darfur.<ref>{{cite news|title=Country of Origin Report: Sudan|url=http://www.unhcr.org/home/RSDCOI/4565711b4.pdf|date=27 October 2006|publisher=Research, Development and Statistics (RDS), Home Office, UK|access-date=18 January 2009|archive-date=26 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926025719/http://www.unhcr.org/home/RSDCOI/4565711b4.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune correspondent charged as spy in Sudan|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-060826salopek,0,6941372.story?coll=la-home-headlines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829214018/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-060826salopek,0,6941372.story?coll=la-home-headlines|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 August 2006|date=26 August 2006|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=World Press Freedom Review|url=http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=/KW0001/KW0004/KW0104/&year=2005|year=2005|publisher=[[International Press Institute]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207205755/http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=%2FKW0001%2FKW0004%2FKW0104%2F&year=2005|archive-date=7 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Police put on a show of force, but are Darfur's militia killers free to roam?|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article468451.ece|date=12 August 2004|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|first=Richard|last=Beeston|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-date=14 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614213411/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article468451.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]] has described the conflict as [[genocide]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Darfur: A 'Plan B' to Stop Genocide?|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/af/rls/rm/82941.htm|date=11 April 2007|publisher=[[US Department of State]]|access-date=24 June 2017|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606003428/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/af/rls/rm/82941.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> the UN has not recognized the conflict as such.<ref name="ICDarfur">[https://www.un.org/News/dh/sudan/com_inq_darfur.pdf#search=%22un%20report%20darfur%20genocide%22 Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the United Nations Secretary-General (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901153924/http://www.un.org/news/dh/sudan/com_inq_darfur.pdf#search=%22un%20report%20darfur%20genocide%22 |date=1 September 2013 }}, United Nations, {{Nowrap|25 January}} 2005</ref> (''see [[International response to the War in Darfur#Declarations of genocide|List of declarations of genocide in Darfur]]'') The [[United States Government]] stated in September 2004 "that [[genocide]] has been committed in Darfur and that the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed bear responsibility and that genocide may still be occurring".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8364-2004Sep9.html|title=U.S. Calls Killings in Sudan Genocide|access-date=17 December 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Glenn|last1=Kessler|first2=Colum|last2=Lynch|date=10 September 2004|archive-date=8 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308003426/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8364-2004Sep9.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 June 2004, U.S. Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]] met with al-Bashir in Sudan and urged him to make peace with the rebels, end the crisis, and lift restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Darfur.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marquis|first=Christopher|title=Powell to Press Sudan to Ease the Way for Aid in Darfur|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E1DA1238F933A05755C0A9629C8B63|date=30 June 2004|access-date=15 July 2008|work=The New York Times|archive-date=2 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202185527/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E1DA1238F933A05755C0A9629C8B63|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kofi Annan]] met with al-Bashir three days later and demanded that he disarm the Janjaweed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Elgabir |first=Nima |date=2 July 2004 |title=Sudan rejects 30-day deadline |work=Independent Online |url=http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1091417584977B235 |access-date=15 July 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref> After fighting stopped in July and August, on {{Nowrap|31 August}} 2006, the [[United Nations Security Council]] had approved [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706|Resolution 1706]] which called for a new UN [[peacekeeping]] force consisting of 17,300 military personnel and 3,300 civilians<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/11/17/un.darfur/index.html|title=Sudan warms to Darfur force plan|date=17 November 2006|website=CNN|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217025621/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/11/17/un.darfur/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and named the [[United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur]] (UNAMID).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burkina-darfur-idUSKBN1300DK|title=Burkina Faso to withdraw Darfur peacekeepers by July|last1=Bonkoungou|first1=Mathieu|date=5 November 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=17 December 2019|last2=Bavier|first2=Joe|editor-last=Evans|editor-first=Catherine|language=en|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329160218/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burkina-darfur-idUSKBN1300DK|url-status=live}}</ref> It was intended to have supplanted or supplemented a 7,000-troop [[African Union]] [[African Union Mission in Sudan|Mission in Sudan peacekeeping force]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/un-oks-26000-darfur-peacekeepers/|title=U.N. OKs 26,000 Darfur Peacekeepers|date=31 July 2007|work=CBS News|access-date=16 December 2019|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217025623/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/un-oks-26000-darfur-peacekeepers/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sudan strongly objected to the resolution and said that it would see the UN forces in the region as "foreign invaders".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjUlpPdT0AwC&pg=PT110|title=What's Wrong with the United Nations and How to Fix it|last=Weiss|first=Thomas G.|date=20 May 2013|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-7456-6146-9|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124191316/https://books.google.com/books?id=hjUlpPdT0AwC&pg=PT110|url-status=live}}</ref> A day after rejecting the UN forces into Sudan, the Sudanese military launched a major offensive in the region.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=a7cd74a8-696f-4e24-852c-374f0d279a9e&k=405|title=Sudan reported to launch new offensive in Darfur|date=1 September 2006|work=Canana.com|access-date=16 December 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311044102/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=a7cd74a8-696f-4e24-852c-374f0d279a9e&k=405|archive-date=11 March 2007|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In March 2007, the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] accused Sudan's government of taking part in "gross violations" in Darfur<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-lMAgAAQBAJ&pg=SA1-PR22|title=Annual Review of United Nations Affairs 2009/2010|last1=Muller|first1=Joachim|last2=Sauvant|first2=Karl P.|date=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-975911-8|volume=1|pages=xxii|language=en|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124191817/https://books.google.com/books?id=R-lMAgAAQBAJ&pg=SA1-PR22|url-status=live}}</ref> and urged the international community to take urgent action to protect people in Darfur.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-darfur-rights-idUSL1228537420070312|first=Richard|last=Waddington|title=Sudan orchestrated Darfur crimes, U.N. mission says|date=12 March 2007|work=Reuters|access-date=21 January 2020|language=en|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128095452/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-darfur-rights-idUSL1228537420070312|url-status=live}}</ref> A high-level technical consultation was held in [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia, on 11–{{Nowrap|12 June}} 2007, pursuant to the {{Nowrap|4 June}} 2007 letters of the secretary-general and the chairperson of the African Union Commission, which were addressed to al-Bashir.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conclusions of the high-level AU UN consultations with the Government of Sudan on the Hybrid Operation|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SBOI-744R5G?OpenDocument|publisher=[[African Union]]|date=12 July 2007|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-date=25 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025100807/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SBOI-744R5G?OpenDocument|url-status=live}}</ref> The technical consultations were attended by delegations from the Government of Sudan, the [[African Union]], and the United Nations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lederer|first=Edith M.|title=Sudan accepts plan for joint peacekeeping force for Darfur|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/12/africa/AF-GEN-AU-Sudan.php|agency=Associated Press|date=12 June 2007|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-date=29 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029033433/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/12/africa/AF-GEN-AU-Sudan.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3474.shtml|title=Sudanese president answers questions on Darfur|publisher=Finalcall.com|date=14 May 2007|access-date=24 March 2010|archive-date=3 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503151854/http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3474.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Refugee camp Chad.jpg|thumb|Darfur refugee camp in Chad, 2005]] In 2009, General [[Martin Luther Agwai]], head of the UNAMID, said the war was over in the region, although low-level disputes remained. "Banditry, localised issues, people trying to resolve issues over water and land at a local level. But real war as such, I think we are over that," he said.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8224424.stm|title=War in Sudan's Darfur 'is over'|work=BBC News|date=27 August 2009|access-date=14 August 2013|archive-date=8 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108160744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8224424.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This perspective is contradicted by reports which indicate that violence continues in Darfur while peace efforts have been stalled repeatedly. Violence between Sudan's military and rebel fighters has beset [[South Kordofan]] and [[Blue Nile State|Blue Nile]] states since disputed state elections in May 2011, an ongoing humanitarian crisis that has prompted international condemnation and U.S. congressional hearings. In 2012, tensions between Sudan and South Sudan reached a boiling point when the Sudanese military bombed territory in South Sudan, leading to hostilities over the disputed Heglig (or Panthou) oil fields located along the Sudan-South Sudan border.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndi.org/sudan|title=Sudan – NDI|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=19 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219203626/https://www.ndi.org/sudan|url-status=dead}}</ref> Omar al-Bashir sought the assistance of numerous non-western countries after the West, led by America, imposed sanctions against him, he said: "From the first day, our policy was clear: To look eastward, toward [[China]], [[Malaysia]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Indonesia]], and even [[Korea]] and [[Japan]], even if the Western influence upon some [of these] countries is strong. We believe that the Chinese expansion was natural because it filled the space left by Western governments, the United States, and international funding agencies. The success of the Sudanese experiment in dealing with China without political conditions or pressures encouraged other African countries to look toward China."<ref>{{cite news |title=Omar al-Bashir Q&A: 'In Any War, Mistakes Happen on the Ground'|author=Sam Dealey|newspaper=Time|date=14 August 2009|url= http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1916262-5,00.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090818190548/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1916262-5,00.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 18 August 2009|access-date=9 March 2011}}</ref> Chadian President [[Idriss Déby]] visited Khartoum in 2010 and Chad kicked out the Darfuri rebels it had previously supported. Both Sudanese and Chadian sides together established a joint military border patrol.<ref name=mg>{{cite web|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-02-09-sudan-chad-agree-to-end-proxy-wars|title=Sudan, Chad agree to end proxy wars|work=[[Mail & Guardian]]|date=9 February 2010|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508114615/https://mg.co.za/article/2010-02-09-sudan-chad-agree-to-end-proxy-wars/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 October 2011, al-Bashir said that Sudan gave military support to the [[Anti-Gaddafi forces|Libyan rebels]], who overthrew [[Muammar Gaddafi]]. In a speech broadcast live on state television, al-Bashir said the move was in response to Gaddafi's support for Sudanese rebels three years ago. Sudan and Libya have had a complicated and frequently antagonistic relationship for many years. President al-Bashir said the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a Darfuri rebel group, had attacked Khartoum three years ago using Libyan trucks, equipment, arms, ammunition and money. He said God had given Sudan a chance to respond, by sending arms, ammunition and humanitarian support to the Libyan revolutionaries. "Our God, high and exalted, from above the seven skies, gave us the opportunity to reciprocate the visit," he said. "The forces which entered Tripoli, part of their arms and capabilities, were 100% Sudanese," he told the crowd. His speech was well received by a large crowd in the eastern Sudanese town of Kassala. But the easy availability of weapons in Libya, and that country's poorly guarded border with Darfur, are also of great concern to the Sudanese authorities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15471734|title=Sudan armed Libyan rebels, says President Bashir|work=BBC News|date=26 October 2011|access-date=26 October 2011|archive-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026230450/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15471734|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Bashir in his speech said that his government's priority was to end the armed rebellion and tribal conflicts in order to save blood and direct the energies of young people towards building Sudan instead of "killing and destruction". He called upon youth of the rebel groups to lay down arms and join efforts to build the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article48062|title=Bashir vows to end rebellion and tribal clashes before 2015 elections|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|date=28 March 2009|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-date=6 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106095912/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article48062|url-status=live}}</ref> Al Bashir sees himself as a man wronged and misunderstood. He takes full responsibility for the conflict in Darfur, he says, but says that his government did not start the fighting and has done everything in its power to end it.<ref name=theguardian.com/> Al Bashir had signed two peace agreements for Darfur: *The 2006 [[Darfur Peace Agreement]], also known as the "Abuja Agreement", was signed on 5 May 2006<ref>{{cite web|work=United Nations|title=UNAMID Background|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unamid/background.shtml|access-date=3 May 2012|archive-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106171142/http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unamid/background.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> by the government of Sudan along with a faction of the [[Sudan Liberation Movement/Army|SLA]] led by [[Minni Minnawi]]. However, the agreement was rejected by two other, smaller groups, the [[Justice and Equality Movement]] (JEM) and a rival faction of the SLA led by [[Abdul Wahid al Nur]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Conflict Encyclopedia|publisher=[[Uppsala Conflict Data Program]]|title=Peace Agreements, Sudan, Darfur Peace Agreement|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=145®ionSelect=1-Northern_Africa#|access-date=4 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322121309/http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=145®ionSelect=1-Northern_Africa|archive-date=22 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Main Rebel Group Sign">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/05/AR2006050500305.html|title=Sudan, Main Rebel Group Sign Peace Deal|first1=Glenn|last1=Kessler|first2=Emily|last2=Wax|date=5 May 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019143430/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/05/AR2006050500305.html|url-status=live}}</ref> *The 2011 Darfur Peace Agreement, also known as the "[[2011 Darfur Peace Agreement|Doha Agreement]]", was signed in July 2011 between the government of Sudan and the [[Liberation and Justice Movement]]. This agreement established a compensation fund for victims of the Darfur conflict, allowed the president of Sudan to appoint a vice-president from Darfur, and established a new [[Darfur Regional Authority]] to oversee the region until a [[2016 Darfurian status referendum|referendum]] can determine its permanent status within the Republic of Sudan.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/DPA-_Doha_draft.pdf|title=Darfur Peace Document|date=27 April 2011|access-date=4 February 2014|archive-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721171259/http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/DPA-_Doha_draft.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The agreement also provided for [[power sharing]] at the national level: movements that sign the agreement will be entitled to nominate two ministers and two four ministers of state at the federal level and will be able to nominate 20 members to the national legislature. The movements will be entitled to nominate two state governors in the Darfur region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/16328|title=Signing of Doha Agreement prompts mixed reactions|publisher=[[Radio Dabanga]]|date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102181852/https://www.radiodabanga.org/node/16328|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> ===Indictment by the ICC=== {{main|International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur#Omar al-Bashir}} [[File:Darfur report - Page 2 Image 1.jpg|thumb|right|Al-Bashir is accused of directing attacks against civilians in [[Darfur]].]] On 14 July 2008, the Chief Prosecutor of the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC), [[Luis Moreno Ocampo]], alleged that al-Bashir bore [[command responsibility|individual criminal responsibility]] for [[genocide]], [[crimes against humanity]], and [[war crime]]s that had been committed in Darfur since 2003. The prosecutor accused al-Bashir of having "masterminded and implemented" a plan to destroy the three main ethnic groups—[[Fur people|Fur]], [[Masalit people|Masalit]], and [[Zaghawa people|Zaghawa]]—with a campaign of murder, rape, and [[deportation]].<ref name="ocampo" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/africa/14iht-15sudan-cnd.14481819.html|title=Hague court accuses Sudanese president of genocide|last1=Simons|first1=Marlise|date=14 July 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 December 2019|last2=Polgreen|first2=Lydia|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127111828/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/africa/14iht-15sudan-cnd.14481819.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The arrest warrant is supported by [[NATO]], the [[Genocide Intervention Network]], and [[Amnesty International]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UolcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25|title=R2P and the US Intervention in Libya|last=Abomo|first=Paul Tang|date=22 May 2018|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-78831-9|pages=25|language=en|access-date=15 December 2019|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124192346/https://books.google.com/books?id=UolcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25|url-status=live}}</ref> An arrest warrant for al-Bashir was issued on {{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009 by a pre-trial chamber composed of judges [[Akua Kuenyehia]] of [[Ghana]], [[Anita Usacka]] of [[Latvia]], and [[Sylvia Steiner]] of [[Brazil]]<ref>{{YouTube|hPG0B2JxDdc|(Official Channel of the ICC)}}</ref> indicting him on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape) and two counts of war crimes ([[War loot|pillaging]] and intentionally directing attacks against civilians).<ref name=ICC-warrant>International Criminal Court ({{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009). {{cite web |url= http://www2.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/doc/doc639078.pdf |title= Warrant of Arrest for Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090305043711/http://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/doc/doc639078.pdf |archive-date= 5 March 2009 |df= dmy-all }} {{small|(358 KB)}}. Retrieved on {{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Criminal Court|date=4 March 2009|url=http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/icc%20issues%20a%20warrant%20of%20arrest%20for%20omar%20al%20bashir_%20president%20of%20sudan?lan=en-GB|title=ICC issues a warrant of arrest for Omar Al Bashir, President of Sudan|access-date=4 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310043331/http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/icc%20issues%20a%20warrant%20of%20arrest%20for%20omar%20al%20bashir_%20president%20of%20sudan?lan=en-GB|archive-date=10 March 2009}}</ref> The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him for genocide.<ref name=BBC1/><ref name=ICC-decision/> However, Usacka wrote a [[dissenting opinion]] arguing that there were "reasonable grounds to believe that Omar Al Bashir has committed the crime of genocide".<ref name=ICC-decision>International Criminal Court ({{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009). {{cite web |url= http://www2.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/doc/doc639096.pdf |title= Decision on the Prosecution's Application for a Warrant of Arrest against Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090306021512/http://www2.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/doc/doc639096.pdf |archive-date= 6 March 2009 |df= dmy-all }} {{small|(7.62 MB)}}. Retrieved on {{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009</ref> Sudan is not a state party to the [[Rome Statute]] establishing the ICC, and thus claims that it does not have to execute the warrant. However, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593]] (2005) referred Sudan to the ICC, which gives the court [[jurisdiction]] over international crimes committed in Sudan and obligates Government of Sudan to cooperate with the ICC,<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Amnesty International]] – Document – Sudan: Amnesty International calls for arrest of President Al Bashir. {{Nowrap|4 March}} 2009</ref> and therefore the court, Amnesty International and others insist that Sudan must comply with the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court.<ref name=BBC1/><ref name=BBC2>{{cite news|work=BBC News|date=27 July 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7527376.stm|title=Sudan ICC charges concern Mbeki|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=17 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217203928/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7527376.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] stated that al-Bashir must turn himself in to face the charges, and that the Sudanese authorities must detain him and turn him over to the ICC if he refuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-sudanese-president-al-bashir-20090304|title=Everything you need to know about human rights. – Amnesty International|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114065123/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-sudanese-president-al-bashir-20090304|url-status=dead}}</ref> Al-Bashir was the first sitting [[head of state]] ever indicted by the ICC.<ref name=BBC1/> However, the [[Arab League]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7971624.stm|title=Arab leaders back 'wanted' Bashir|work=BBC News|access-date=30 March 2009|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407134041/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7971624.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[African Union]] condemned the warrant. Following the indictment Al-Bashir visited China,<ref>{{cite web |author=sda/ddp/afp/dpa |date=29 June 2011 |title=Peking empfängt al-Bashir wie einen Ehrengast |url=http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/politik/international/china_sudan_baschir_1.11098843.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030081959/https://www.nzz.ch/china_sudan_baschir-1.11098843 |archive-date=30 October 2017 |access-date=7 November 2012 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung}}</ref> [[Djibouti]],<ref>{{cite web |date=9 May 2011 |title=ICC Suspect Al-Bashir Travels to Djibouti |url=http://www.iccnow.org/?mod=newsdetail&news=4505 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720204708/http://www.iccnow.org/?mod=newsdetail&news=4505 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |publisher=[[Coalition for the International Criminal Court]]}}</ref><ref name="BashirWatch" /> Egypt, Ethiopia, [[India]],<ref>{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=26 October 2015 |title=India-Africa summit: Arrest Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, demands Amnesty International |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/india-africa-summit-arrest-sudan-president-omar-al-bashir-demands-amnesty-international/#sthash.3TKYElzZ.dpuf |url-status=live |journal=The Indian Express |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031003806/http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/india-africa-summit-arrest-sudan-president-omar-al-bashir-demands-amnesty-international/#sthash.3TKYElzZ.dpuf |archive-date=31 October 2015 |access-date=3 November 2015}}</ref> Libya,<ref>{{cite news |date=7 January 2012 |title=Sudan's Bashir offers help to Libya during criticised visit |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16454493 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106071925/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16454493 |archive-date=6 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=7 January 2012 |title=Sudan president Bashir visits Libya |newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]] |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/sudan-president-bashir-visits-libya-28700320.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222822/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/sudan-president-bashir-visits-libya-28700320.html |archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> [[Nigeria]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bashir leaves Nigeria amid calls for arrest |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/07/201371674249998727.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716140820/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/07/201371674249998727.html |archive-date=16 July 2013 |access-date=16 July 2013 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the [[United Arab Emirates]], and several other countries, all of which refused to have him arrested. ICC member state Chad also refused to arrest al-Bashir during a state visit in July 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/22/chad-refuses-arrest-omar-al-bashir|location=London|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=Xan|last=Rice|title=Chad refuses to arrest Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges|date=22 July 2010|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116173830/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/22/chad-refuses-arrest-omar-al-bashir|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also invited to attend conferences in [[Denmark]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Danish government must arrest Sudanese President if he attends climate conference |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/danish-government-must-arrest-sudanese-president-if-he-attends-climate-conferenc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911001433/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/danish-government-must-arrest-sudanese-president-if-he-attends-climate-conferenc |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref> and [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web |date=6 November 2009 |title=Turkey: No to safe haven for fugitive from international justice |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/turkey-no-safe-haven-fugitive-international-justice-20091106 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911001441/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/turkey-no-safe-haven-fugitive-international-justice-20091106 |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]]}}</ref> On 28 November 2011, following a visit to [[Kenya]], Kenya's High Court Judge Nicholas Ombija ordered the Minister of Internal Security to arrest al-Bashir, "should he set foot in Kenya in the future".<ref>{{cite news |date=28 November 2011 |title=Kenyan court issues arrest order for Sudan's Bashir |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-bashir-icc-idUSTRE7AR0YA20111128 |url-status=live |access-date=5 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011171307/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-bashir-icc-idUSTRE7AR0YA20111128 |archive-date=11 October 2021}}</ref> In June 2015, while in [[South Africa]] for an [[African Union]] meeting, al-Bashir was prohibited from leaving that country while a court decided whether he should be handed over to the ICC for war crimes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mataboge |first=Mmanaledi |date=14 June 2015 |title=SA court to rule on Sudan president's fate |url=http://mg.co.za/article/2015-06-14-sa-court-to-rule-on-sudan-presidents-fate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616163714/http://mg.co.za/article/2015-06-14-sa-court-to-rule-on-sudan-presidents-fate |archive-date=16 June 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015 |website=Mail & Guardian}}</ref> He, nevertheless, was allowed to leave South Africa soon afterward.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 June 2015 |title=Laughter as court told Al-Bashir has left |url=http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/Laughter-as-court-told-al-Bashir-has-left-20150615 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617021901/http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/Laughter-as-court-told-al-Bashir-has-left-20150615 |archive-date=17 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015 |website=News24}}</ref> Luis Moreno Ocampo and Amnesty International claimed that al-Bashir's plane could be intercepted in international airspace. Sudan announced that the presidential plane would always be escorted by fighter jets of the [[Sudanese Air Force]] to prevent his arrest. In March 2009, just before al-Bashir's visit to Qatar, the Sudanese government was reportedly considering sending fighter jets to accompany his plane to Qatar, possibly in response to France expressing support for an operation to intercept his plane in international airspace, as France has military bases in Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ethiopianreview.us/9071|author=Elias Kifle|title=Fighter jets may guard al-Bashir's flight to Qatar|work=Ethiopian Review|date=28 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227010405/http://www.ethiopianreview.us/9071|archive-date=27 December 2013|author-link=Elias Kifle}}</ref> [[File:OmarHassanBashir 03nov06 210.jpg|thumb|right|Al-Bashir in Beijing, China, 3 November 2006]] The charges against al-Bashir have been criticized and ignored in Sudan and abroad, particularly in Africa and the Muslim world. Former president of the [[African Union]] [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]] characterized the indictment as a form of terrorism. He also believed that the warrant is an attempt "by (the west) to recolonize their former colonies".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7970892.stm|title=Sudan leader in Qatar for summit|work=BBC News|date=29 March 2009|access-date=14 November 2011|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407135413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7970892.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Egypt said, it was "greatly disturbed" by the ICC decision and called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council to defer the arrest warrant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/04/sudan-demostrators-support-bashir|title=Uproar in Sudan over Bashir war crimes warrant|first=Xan|last=Rice|work=The Guardian|date=4 March 2009|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305031432/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/04/sudan-demostrators-support-bashir|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Arab League]] Secretary-General [[Amr Moussa]] expressed that the organization emphasizes its solidarity with Sudan and condemned the warrant for "undermining the unity and stability of Sudan".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/03/2009330175846714662.html|title=Arab leaders snub al-Bashir warrant|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=5 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405194813/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/03/2009330175846714662.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] denounced the warrant as unwarranted and totally unacceptable. It argued that the warrant demonstrated "selectivity and double standard applied in relation to issues of war crimes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/organization-islamic-conference|title=The Organization of the Islamic Conference|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731095726/https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/organization-islamic-conference|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Bashir has rejected the charges, saying "Whoever has visited Darfur, met officials and discovered their ethnicities and tribes ... will know that all of these things are lies."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1417202620080714|title=ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Sudan's Bashir|first=Emma|last=Thomasson|work=Reuters|access-date=16 July 2008|date=14 July 2008|archive-date=16 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216000630/https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1417202620080714|url-status=live}}</ref> He described the charges as "not worth the ink they are written in".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83299|title=IRIN Africa – SUDAN: The case against Bashir – Sudan – Conflict – Human Rights – Refugees/IDPs|date=4 March 2009|agency=IRIN|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127062712/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=83299|url-status=live}}</ref> The warrant was to be delivered to the Sudanese government, which stated that they would not carry it out.<ref name=BBC1/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="BBC2"/> The Sudanese government retaliated against the warrant by expelling a number of international [[aid agency|aid agencies]], including [[Oxfam]] and [[Mercy Corps]].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=4 March 2009|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/04/sudan.expel|title=Sudan orders aid agency expulsions|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=6 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306192219/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/04/sudan.expel/|url-status=live}}</ref> President Bashir described the aid agencies as thieves who take "99 percent of the budget for humanitarian work themselves, giving the people of Darfur 1 percent" and as spies in the work of foreign regimes. Bashir promised that national agencies will provide aid to Darfur.<ref>{{cite web |author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |title=Sudan: We will fill the aid gaps, government insists |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,IRIN,,SDN,456d621e2,49b8dfd514,0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019160059/https://www.refworld.org/country,,IRIN,,SDN,456d621e2,49b8dfd514,0.html |archive-date=19 October 2023 |access-date=4 March 2016 |work=Refworld}}</ref> [[File:Omar al-Bashir, 12th AU Summit, 090131-N-0506A-347.jpg|thumb|left|Al-Bashir in [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia, 31 January 2009]] Al-Bashir was one of the candidates in the [[2010 Sudanese general election|2010 Sudanese presidential election]], the first democratic election with multiple political parties participating since the [[1986 Sudanese parliamentary election|1986 election]].<ref name="sudantribune.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28034|title=SPLM Kiir to run for president in Sudan 2009 elections|access-date=4 March 2016|work=Sudan Tribune|date=26 July 2008|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424154507/https://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28034|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28067|title=Eastern Sudan Beja, SPLM discuss electoral alliance|access-date=4 March 2016|work=Sudan Tribune|date=28 July 2008|archive-date=5 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505052330/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28067|url-status=dead}}</ref> It had been suggested that by holding and winning a legitimate presidential elections in 2010, al-Bashir had hoped to evade the ICC's warrant for his arrest.<ref name=France24>{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100426-al-bashir-wins-sudan-presidential-election|title=Sudan's al-Bashir wins landmark presidential poll|publisher=[[France 24]]|date=26 April 2010|access-date=26 April 2010|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306113117/https://www.france24.com/en/20100426-al-bashir-wins-sudan-presidential-election|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 April, he was officially declared the winner after Sudan's election commission announced he had received 68% of the votes cast in the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8643602.stm|title=President Omar al-Bashir declared winner of Sudan poll|work=[[BBC News]]|date=26 April 2010|access-date=26 April 2010|archive-date=10 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510224705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8643602.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> However, ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted the voting was "marred by boycotts and reports of intimidation and widespread fraud".<ref>{{cite news|first=Marlise|last=Simons|title=International Court Adds Genocide to Charges Against Sudan Leader|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/world/africa/13hague.html|date=12 July 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=13 July 2010|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718070529/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/world/africa/13hague.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2013, Bashir's plane was blocked from entering Saudi Arabian airspace when Bashir was attempting to attend the inauguration of Iranian President [[Hassan Rouhani]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/sudan-president-blocked-from-saudi-air-space/1723267.html|title=Sudan President Blocked from Saudi Air Space|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|date=4 August 2013|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101171845/http://www.voanews.com/content/sudan-president-blocked-from-saudi-air-space/1723267.html|url-status=live}}</ref> whose country is the main supplier of weapons to Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21595505-under-omar-al-bashir-sudan-steepening-decline-downhill|title=Under Omar al-Bashir, Sudan is in steepening decline|date=1 February 2014|access-date=4 February 2014|place=Khartoum|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701161408/http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21595505-under-omar-al-bashir-sudan-steepening-decline-downhill|url-status=live}}</ref> A second arrest warrant for al-Bashir was issued on 12 July 2010. The ICC issued an additional warrant adding 3 counts of genocide for the [[ethnic cleansing]] of the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa tribes.<ref name="BashirWatch">{{cite web|title=BashirWatch|url=http://bashirwatch.org/|publisher=[[United to End Genocide]]|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-date=8 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308053926/http://bashirwatch.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> The new warrant included the court's conclusion that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that al-Bashir acted with specific [[genocidal intent|intent to destroy]] in part the Fur, Masalit and [[Zaghawa people|Zaghawa]] ethnic groups in the Darfur region.<ref>RTTNews [http://www.rttnews.com/Content/MarketSensitiveNews.aspx?Id=1356662&SM=1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124192348/https://www.rttnews.com/list/market-sensitive-global-news.aspx?Id=1356662&SM=1|date=24 January 2023}} {{Nowrap|12 July}} 2010, accessed {{Nowrap|12 July}} 2010</ref> The charges against al-Bashir, in three separate counts, include "genocide by killing", "genocide by causing serious bodily or mental harm" and "genocide by deliberately inflicting on each target group conditions of life calculated to bring about the group's physical destruction".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Morris |first=P Sean |date=February 2018 |title=Economic Genocide Under International Law |journal=The Journal of Criminal Law |language=en |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=29 |doi=10.1177/0022018317749698 |issn=0022-0183 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The new warrant acted as a supplement to the first, whereby the charges initially brought against al-Bashir all remained in place, but now included the crime of genocide which was initially ruled out, pending appeal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/pages/item.aspx?name=pr557|title=Pre-Trial Chamber I issues a second warrant of arrest against Omar Al Bashir for counts of genocide|date=12 July 2010|website=International Criminal Court|language=en-GB|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217025633/https://www.icc-cpi.int/pages/item.aspx%3Fname%3Dpr557|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir met with Ali Khamenei 04.jpg|thumb|Al-Bashir with [[Iran]]'s Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]], Tehran, 31 August 2012]] [[File:Vladimir Putin and Omar al-Bashir (2017-11-23) 02.jpg|thumb|Al-Bashir and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] during a meeting in Sochi on 27 November 2017]]Al-Bashir said that Sudan is not a party to the ICC treaty and could not be expected to abide by its provisions just like the United States, China and Russia. He said "It is a political issue and double standards, because there are obvious crimes like Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan, but [they] did not find their way to the International Criminal Court". He added "The same decision in which [the] Darfur case [was] being transferred to the court stated that the American soldiers [in Iraq and Afghanistan] would not be questioned by the court, so it is not about justice, it is a political issue." Al Bashir accused Luis Moreno Ocampo, the ICC's chief prosecutor since 2003 of repeatedly lying in order to damage his reputation and standing. Al-Bashir said "The behavior of the prosecutor of the court, it was clearly the behavior of a political activist not a legal professional. He is now working on a big campaign to add more lies." He added, "The biggest lie was when he said I have $9bn in one of the British banks, and thank God, the British bank and the [British] finance minister … denied these allegations." He also said: "The clearest cases in the world such as Palestine and Iraq and Afghanistan, clear crimes to the whole humanity – all were not transferred to the court."<ref name=theguardian.com/> Russia and China echoed Bashir's argument that the ICC was being used as a political tool and argued for Al-Bashir’s immunity as a head of state and continued supplying Sudan with weapons during the trial.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2012/02/darfur-new-weapons-china-and-russia-fuelling-conflict/ | title=Darfur: New weapons from China and Russia fuelling conflict | date=9 February 2012 }}</ref> As permanent members of the UNSC, they opposed the ICC's actions against Al-Bashir and worked within the UNSC to block resolutions that would force Al-Bashir to comply with the court's rulings.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/china-russia-seek-to-block-un-report-on-darfur-idUSL1682479/ | title=China, Russia seek to block UN report on Darfur | work=Reuters }}</ref> China had significant economic and strategic interests in Sudan, including oil investments, and maintained strong diplomatic ties with Al-Bashir's government. They hosted him in 2015 despite the arrest warrants against him, and Russia as well in 2017, undermining the legitimacy of the court's ruling.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/sudans-president-omar-al-bashir-china | title=Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir in China | Council on Foreign Relations }}</ref> In October 2013, several members of the African Union expressed anger at the ICC, calling it "racist" for failing to file charges against Western leaders or Western allies while prosecuting only African suspects so far. The African Union demanded that the ICC protect African heads of state from prosecution.<ref>{{cite news|author=Geoffrey York|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/african-union-demands-icc-to-protect-leaders-from-prosecution/article14850866/|title=African Union demands ICC exempt leaders from prosecution|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=13 October 2013|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123011516/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/african-union-demands-icc-to-protect-leaders-from-prosecution/article14850866/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of Sudan, Mr. Omar al-Bashir, in New Delhi on October 30, 2015.jpg|thumb|Al Bashir meeting with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], New Delhi, India, 30 October 2015]] ===Military intervention in Yemen=== In 2015, Sudan participated in the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] against the [[Shia]] [[Houthis]] and forces loyal to former president [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]],<ref>"[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-27/sudan-joining-saudi-campaign-in-yemen-shows-shift-in-region-ties Sudan Joining Saudi Campaign in Yemen Shows Shift in Region Ties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106123754/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-27/sudan-joining-saudi-campaign-in-yemen-shows-shift-in-region-ties |date=6 November 2017 }}". [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]. 27 March 2015.</ref> who was deposed during the 2011–2012 [[Yemeni Revolution]].<ref>"[https://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/middleeast/yemen-saudi-arabia-airstrikes/ Saudi-led coalition strikes rebels in Yemen, inflaming tensions in region] ". [[CNN]]. 27 March 2015.</ref> [[Reuters]] reported that "The war in Yemen has given Omar Hassan al-Bashir, a skilled political operator who has ruled Sudan for a quarter-century, an opportunity to show wealthy Sunni powers that he can be an asset against Iranian influence – if the price is right."<ref>"[http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sudan-yemen-idUKKBN0NL0K720150430 Sudan maintains balancing act with Saudi, Iran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201153629/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sudan-yemen-idUKKBN0NL0K720150430 |date=1 December 2018 }}". [[Reuters]]. 30 April 2015.</ref> ===Allegations of corruption=== During the Second Sudanese Civil War, Al-Bashir allegedly looted Sudan of much of its wealth. According to leaked US diplomatic cables, $9 billion of his siphoned wealth was stored in banks in London. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, stated that some of the funds were being held in the partially nationalized Lloyds Banking Group. He also reportedly told US officials it was necessary to go public with the scale of al-Bashir's extortion to turn public opinion against him.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web| title =Profile: Sudan's Omar al-Bashir| publisher =BBC| date =5 December 2011| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16010445| access-date =21 June 2018| archive-date =20 April 2018| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180420155538/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16010445| url-status =live}}</ref> One US official stated "Ocampo suggested if Bashir's stash of money were disclosed (he put the figure at $9bn), it would change Sudanese public opinion from him being a 'crusader' to that of a thief." "Ocampo reported Lloyd's bank in London may be holding or knowledgeable of the whereabouts of his money," the report says. "Ocampo suggested exposing Bashir had illegal accounts would be enough to turn the Sudanese against him."<ref>{{cite web| last =Hirsch| first =Afua| title =WikiLeaks cables: Sudanese president 'stashed $9bn in UK banks| work =The Guardian| date =17 December 2010| url =https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/17/wikileaks-sudanese-president-cash-london| access-date =15 December 2016| archive-date =31 January 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170131081634/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/17/wikileaks-sudanese-president-cash-london| url-status =live}}</ref> A [[United States diplomatic cables leak|leaked diplomatic cable]] allegedly reveals that the Sudanese president had embezzled US$9 billion in state funds, but [[Lloyds Bank]] "insisted it was not aware of any link with Bashir," while a Sudanese government spokesman called the claim "ludicrous" and attacked the motives of the prosecutor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/Home/Bank-denies-WikiLeaks-Sudan-claim-0-114639.xnf?FeedSourceID=11&FeedImageID=23758&BodyFormat=1&|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421031200/http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/Home/Bank-denies-WikiLeaks-Sudan-claim-0-114639.xnf?FeedSourceID=11&FeedImageID=23758&BodyFormat=1&|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2013|title=Bank denies WikiLeaks' Sudan claim|publisher=Nuneaton-news|access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref> In an interview with the Guardian, al-Bashir said, referring to ICC Prosecutor Ocampo, "The biggest lie was when he said I have $9 billion in one of the British banks, and thank God, the British bank and the [British] finance minister ... denied these allegations."<ref name="theguardian.com" /> The arrest warrant actively increased public support for al-Bashir in Sudan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?mot126|title=Omer Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir|work=[[Sudan Tribune]]|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-date=6 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106095930/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?mot126|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[File:LA CONFÉRENCE ISLAMIQUE DES MINISTRES DE LA CULTURE.jpg|thumb|The meeting of the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] (OIC) in Sudan, January 2019]] Part of the [[BNP Paribas#Business with sanctioned countries|$8.9 billion fine]] the [[BNP Paribas]] paid for sanctions violations was related to their trade with Sudan. While smaller fines have also been given to other banks,<ref>{{cite news|work=Middle East Eye|author=Mohammed Amin|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/government-and-courtrooms-sudan-fights-recover-embezzled-billions|title=Bashir's billions and the banks that helped him: Sudan fights to recover stolen funds|date=13 October 2019|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107233924/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/government-and-courtrooms-sudan-fights-recover-embezzled-billions|url-status=live}}</ref> US Justice Department officials said that they found the BNP particularly uncooperative, calling it Sudan's ''de facto'' central bank.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Reuters|author=Nate Raymond|title=BNP Paribas sentenced in $8.9 billion accord over sanctions violations|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bnp-paribas-settlement-sentencing/bnp-paribas-sentenced-in-8-9-billion-accord-over-sanctions-violations-idUSKBN0NM41K20150501|date=1 May 2015|quote=Authorities said that BNP essentially functioned as the “central bank for the government of Sudan,” concealing its tracks and failing to cooperate when first contacted by law enforcement|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017151055/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bnp-paribas-settlement-sentencing/bnp-paribas-sentenced-in-8-9-billion-accord-over-sanctions-violations-idUSKBN0NM41K20150501|url-status=live}}</ref> ===African space agency=== In 2012, al-Bashir proposed setting up a continent-wide space agency in Africa. In a statement he said, "I'm calling for the biggest project, an African space agency. Africa must have its space agency... [It] will liberate Africa from technological domination".<ref name=":0" /> This followed previous calls in 2010 by the African Union (AU) to conduct a feasibility study that would draw up a "road map for the creation of the African space agency". African astronomy received a massive boost when South Africa was awarded the majority shares of the [[Square Kilometre Array]], the world's biggest radio telescope. It will see dishes erected in nine African countries. But skeptics have questioned whether a continental body in the style of [[NASA]] or the [[European Space Agency]] would be affordable.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/06/sudanese-president-african-space-agency|title=Sudanese president calls for African space agency|author=David Smith|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=6 September 2012|access-date=17 December 2014|author-link=David Smith (journalist)|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102203403/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/06/sudanese-president-african-space-agency|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Ousting from power=== {{main|2019 Sudanese coup d'état}} On 11 April 2019, al-Bashir was removed from his post by the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]]<ref name="CNN Live">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/africa/live-news/sudan-latest-updates/index.html|first1=Eliza|first2=James|last1=McKintosh|last2=Griffiths|title=Sudan's Omar al-Bashir forced out in coup|date=11 April 2019|work=Cable News Network|access-date=12 April 2019|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503181337/https://www.cnn.com/africa/live-news/sudan-latest-updates/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> after many [[2016 Sudanese protests|months of protests]] and civil uprisings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/africa/live-news/sudan-latest-updates/index.html/|title=CNN News|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411211804/https://edition.cnn.com/africa/live-news/sudan-latest-updates/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was immediately placed under house arrest pending the formation of a transitional council.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=11 April 2019|title=Jubilation as Sudan's Omar Al-Bashir 'under house arrest now'|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1480936/middle-east|date=11 April 2019|website=Arab News|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411102509/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1480936/middle-east|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time of his arrest al-Bashir had been the longest-serving leader of Sudan since the country gained independence in 1956, and was the longest-ruling president of the [[Arab League]]. The army also ordered the arrest of all ministers in al-Bashir's cabinet, dissolved the [[National Legislature (Sudan)|National Legislature]] and formed a [[Transitional Military Council (2019)|Transitional Military Council]], led by his own First Vice President and Defense Minister, Lieutenant General [[Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf]].<ref name="CNN Live"/> ==Post-presidency== On 17 April 2019, al-Bashir was moved from house arrest to Khartoum's [[Kobar Prison]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sudan crisis: Ex-President Omar al-Bashir moved to prison |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47961424 |access-date=13 May 2019 |agency=BBC News |date=17 April 2019 |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417162919/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47961424 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 13 May 2019, prosecutors charged al-Bashir with "inciting and participating in" the killing of protesters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sudan's Omar al-Bashir charged over killing of protesters |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/sudan-omar-al-bashir-charged-killing-protesters-190513160017793.html |access-date=13 May 2019 |agency=Al Jazeera |date=13 May 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330050219/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/sudan-omar-al-bashir-charged-killing-protesters-190513160017793.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A trial for corruption (after $130 million was found in his home)<ref name="veconomist" >{{cite news|title= Two years in a rest home for Sudan's former tyrant|url= https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2019/12/18/two-years-in-a-rest-home-for-sudans-former-tyrant|newspaper= [[The Economist]]|date= 18 December 2019|access-date= 20 December 2019|archive-date= 11 May 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200511041020/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2019/12/18/two-years-in-a-rest-home-for-sudans-former-tyrant|url-status= live}}</ref> and [[money laundering]] against al-Bashir started during the following months.<ref name="Dabanga_FCC_Bashir2ICC" /> On 14 December 2019, he was convicted for money laundering and corruption. He was sentenced to two years in prison.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/world/africa/sudan-bashir-trial-verdict.html|title=Sudan's Ousted Leader Is Sentenced to Two Years for Corruption|last=Dahir|first=Abdi Latif|date=13 December 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 December 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501131810/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/world/africa/sudan-bashir-trial-verdict.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 21 July 2020, his trial regarding the coup that brought him to power started. About 20 military personnel were indicted for their roles in the coup.<ref name="auto"/> On 20 December 2022, al-Bashir said that he bears full responsibility for the events that took place in the country on June 30, 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=الرئيس السوداني المعزول عمر البشير: أتحمل المسؤولية عن أحداث 30 يونيو 1989 (فيديو) |trans-title=Deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir: I bear responsibility for the events of June 30, 1989 (video) |url=https://mubasher.aljazeera.net/news/2022/12/20/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%b2%d9%88%d9%84-%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b4%d9%8a%d8%b1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316012426/https://mubasher.aljazeera.net/news/2022/12/20/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%B1 |archive-date=2023-03-16 |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=mubasher.aljazeera.net |language=ar}}</ref> The trial is expected to continue for several more months and if convicted, Bashir could face a death sentence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-20 |title=Sudan's Bashir admits role in 1989 coup during trial |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/12/20/Sudan-s-Bashir-admits-role-in-1989-coup-during-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316012427/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/12/20/Sudan-s-Bashir-admits-role-in-1989-coup-during-trial |archive-date=2023-03-16 |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref> ===International Criminal Court=== On 5 November 2019, the [[Forces of Freedom and Change]] alliance (FFC), which holds indirect political power during the [[2019 Sudanese transition to democracy|39-month Sudanese transition to democracy]], stated that it had reached a consensus decision in favor of transferring al-Bashir to the ICC after the completion of his corruption and money laundering trial.<ref name="Dabanga_FCC_Bashir2ICC" /> In the following days, Sudanese transition period Prime Minister [[Abdalla Hamdok]] and [[Sovereignty Council of Sudan|Sovereignty Council]] member [[Siddiq Tawer]] stated that al-Bashir would be transferred to the [[International Criminal Court|ICC]].<ref name="SudTrib_Hamdok_Bashir2ICC" /><ref name="SudTrib_Tawer_Bashir_handover" /> On 11 February 2020, Sudan's ruling military council agreed to hand over the ousted al-Bashir to the ICC in [[The Hague]] to face charges of crimes against humanity in Darfur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/11/sudan-says-it-will-send-former-dictator-omar-al-bashir-to-icc|title=Sudan signals it may send former dictator Omar al-Bashir to ICC|website=The Guardian|date=11 February 2020|access-date=12 February 2020|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813172010/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/11/sudan-says-it-will-send-former-dictator-omar-al-bashir-to-icc|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, ICC Chief Prosecutor [[Fatou Bensouda]] and a delegation arrived in Sudan to discuss with the government about Bashir's indictment. In a deal with Darfurian rebels, the government agreed to set up a special war crimes court that would include Bashir.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54548629|title=Omar Bashir: ICC delegation begins talks in Sudan over former leader|work=BBC News|date=17 October 2020|access-date=21 January 2021|archive-date=5 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105130734/https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-africa-54548629|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Detention=== On 26 April 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces stated that al-Bashir, [[Bakri Hassan Saleh]], [[Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein]] and two other former officials were taken from Kobar Prison to Alia Military Hospital in [[Omdurman]] due to the [[2023 Sudan conflict|conflict]] that erupted earlier that month.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 April 2023 |title=Former Sudan Officials Leave Prison, Raising Questions about Bashir |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/former-sudan-officials-leave-prison-raising-questions-about-bashir/7066820.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426133955/http://www.voanews.com/a/former-sudan-officials-leave-prison-raising-questions-about-bashir/7066820.html |archive-date=26 April 2023 |publisher=VOA News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dahir |first=Abdi Latif |date=26 April 2023 |title=Mystery of Ex-Dictator's Whereabouts Adds to Crisis in Sudan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/world/africa/sudan-dictator-bashir.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426115404/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/world/africa/sudan-dictator-bashir.html |archive-date=26 April 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Al-Bashir and other officials were later taken to a hospital at [[Wadi Seidna Air Base]], where they remained until their transfer to a facility in [[Merowe, Sudan|Merowe]] in September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 September 2024 |title=Deposed Sudan dictator Al Bashir 'moved to Merowe for medical treatment' |url=https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/deposed-sudan-dictator-al-bashir-moved-to-merowe-for-medical-treatment |work=Radio Dabanga}}</ref> Al-Bashir is reported to be suffering from heart problems.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 September 2024 |title=Sudan's jailed former strongman Omar al-Bashir is taken to a hospital in the north for better care |url=https://apnews.com/article/sudan-war-al-bashir-darfur-military-rsf-3486ebe1f9c563ae46d7fc38ca204bb9 |work=Associated Press}}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Politics}} * [[Politics of Sudan]] * [[History of Sudan]] ==References== {{Include-USGov|agency=United States Department of State|policy=https://sd.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/us-sudan-relations/}}{{Reflist|refs= <!-- <ref name="Bensouda_June2019_update">{{cite web | last1 =Bensouda | first1 =Fatou | author1-link =Fatou Bensouda | title = Statement to the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to UNSCR 1593 (2005) | publisher =[[International Criminal Court]] | date =19 June 2019 | url = https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=190619-stat-otp-UNSC-Darfur-Sudan | access-date = 19 June 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190619214801/https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=190619-stat-otp-UNSC-Darfur-Sudan |archive-date= 19 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>--> <ref name="SudTrib_Hamdok_Bashir2ICC">{{cite news | title=الوساطة تسلم مقترحات جديدة حول النقاط العالقة في وثيقة سلام دارفور Sudan's PM says al-Bashir to be handed over to the ICC |trans-title =Mediation receives new proposals on sticking points in the Darfur Peace Document | date= 5 November 2019 |newspaper= [[Sudan Tribune]] | url= https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68454 |access-date=6 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191106211346/https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68454 |archive-date= 6 November 2019 |url-status=live <!-- live|dead|unfit|usurped -->}}</ref> <ref name="Dabanga_FCC_Bashir2ICC">{{cite news | title= Sudan's Forces for Freedom and Change: 'Hand Al Bashir to ICC' | date= 5 November 2019 |newspaper= [[Radio Dabanga]] | url= https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-s-forces-for-freedom-and-change-hand-al-bashir-to-icc |access-date=6 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191106211949/https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-s-forces-for-freedom-and-change-hand-al-bashir-to-icc |archive-date= 6 November 2019 |url-status=live <!-- live|dead|unfit|usurped -->}}</ref> <ref name="SudTrib_Tawer_Bashir_handover">{{cite news | title=اجواء مشحونة تخيم على ابيى بعد اشتباكات دامية بين الدينكا والمسيرية |trans-title = A charged atmosphere hangs over Abyei after bloody clashes between the Dinka and the Misseriya | date= 8 November 2019 |newspaper= [[Sudan Tribune]] | url= https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68476 |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191109201601/https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68476 |archive-date= 9 November 2019 |url-status=live <!-- live|dead|unfit|usurped -->}}</ref> }} ==Notes== {{Notelist}} ==External links== {{sister project links|d=Q57265|c=Category:Omar al-Bashir|q=Omar al-Bashir|n=yes|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090307195202/http://www.trial-ch.org/en/trial-watch/profil/db/facts/omar-hassan-ahmad_al-bashir_779.html Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir] at Trial Watch. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090213072259/http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/9/502.c2V0TGFuZz1FTiZMPUVO.html Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir] at The Hague Justice Portal. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101110221829/http://sudaninside.net/2007/11/18/omar-el-bashir-order-re-opening-of-popular-defence-training-camps "Sudanese President Threaten Wars"], ''Sudan Inside'', {{nowrap|18 November}} 2007. *{{unfit|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080213210041/http://www.heritage.org/Research/MiddleEast/EM245.cfm "A Cautious Welcome for Sudan's New Government"]}} by Michael Johns, Heritage Foundation Executive Memorandum No. 245, {{nowrap|28 July}} 1989. *[https://archive.today/20121209014520/http://en.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-476/_nr-1121/i.html Arrest Warrant for Sudan's President Bashir: Arabs Are Leaving Themselves out of the International Justice System] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091223062352/http://www.iss.europa.eu/nc/actualites/actualite/article/playing-it-firm-fair-and-smart-the-eu-and-the-iccs-indictment-of-bashir/ Playing it firm, fair and smart: the EU and the ICC's indictment of Bashir], opinion by Reed Brody, [[European Union Institute for Security Studies]], March 2009. *{{C-SPAN|1021319}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ahmad al-Mirghani]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[President of Sudan]]|years=1989–2019}} {{s-vac}} {{s-end}} {{SudanPresidents}} {{ICC indictees (NavBox)}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bashir, Omar}} [[Category:1944 births]] [[Category:Sudanese Arabs]] [[Category:Egyptian Military Academy alumni]] [[Category:Field marshals]] [[Category:Fugitives wanted by the International Criminal Court]] [[Category:Fugitives wanted on crimes against humanity charges]] [[Category:Fugitives wanted on war crimes charges]] [[Category:Genocide perpetrators]] [[Category:Politicide perpetrators]] [[Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned]] [[Category:Ja'alin tribe]] [[Category:Leaders who took power by coup]] [[Category:Leaders ousted by a coup]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:National Congress Party (Sudan) politicians]] [[Category:People from River Nile State]] [[Category:People indicted for genocide]] [[Category:People indicted for war crimes]] [[Category:People of the Sudanese revolution]] [[Category:People of the War in Darfur]] [[Category:Politicians convicted of corruption]] [[Category:Presidents of Sudan]] [[Category:Defense ministers of Sudan]] [[Category:Sudanese prisoners and detainees]] [[Category:Anti-Americanism]] [[Category:Anti-British sentiment]] [[Category:Anti-Western sentiment]] [[Category:Anti-Zionism in Africa]] [[Category:Authoritarianism]] [[Category:Fugitives wanted on genocide charges]] [[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Sudan]] [[Category:Sudanese criminals]] [[Category:Sudanese Military College alumni]] [[Category:Sudanese Islamists]] [[Category:20th-century military personnel]]
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