Sudan to join International Criminal Court's Rome Statute

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Meeting Tuesday, Sudan’s Cabinet approved a law to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it said in a statement.

Sudan had refused to join the ICC since its establishment in 1998 and has viewed it with hostility, as the court indicted ousted President Omer Al-Bashir and some of his aides.

“The Cabinet has unanimously passed a draft of law of which Sudan will join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the statement said in part.

The statement added that the law would be submitted to a joint meeting of the Cabinet and the Sovereign Council for final approval.

Sudan’s prime minister tweeted confirming the move without giving further details.

“Justice and accountability are a solid foundation of the new, rule of law-based Sudan we’re striving to build,” Abdalla Hamdok tweeted.

Sudan earlier said that the former president and the other indicted aides would “appear” in front of the ICC, but it did not elaborate whether they will be handed over to The Hague-based court or if it would convene in Sudan.