Sudan’s president replaced the top leadership of his armed forces, the army said late on Thursday, including removing one senior officer facing US sanctions for his alleged role in the Darfur conflict.
Sudan’s army spokesman told reporters the move was nothing to do with politics, but was part of an annual review of senior posts, promoting officers to replace commanders who had reached retirement age.
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir removed five generals, including deputy chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the armed services General Mohammed Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, blacklisted by Washington for his role as the army’s head of military intelligence and security during the Darfur conflict.
Auf is included on Washington’s list of Specially Designated Nationals, which freezes any of their assets in the States and blocks US nationals from doing business with them.
Sudan is also facing UN sanctions over the seven-year Darfur conflict. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Bashir and two other men to face war crimes charges in region. Khartoum has refused to deal with the court.
Meanwhile, the ICC prosecutor said he would ask the UN Security Council yesterday to take action to ensure the arrest of a Sudanese governor and a militia leader accused of atrocities in Darfur.
Luis Moreno Ocampo said in an interview on Thursday that the court’s pre-trial judges ruled on May 25 that the Sudanese government has refused to cooperate and hand over South Kordofan Governor Ahmed Harun and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb.
The prosecutor said he would tell the council at yesterday’s open meeting: “”After the judges decision, it’s the Security Council’s responsibility.”
The court’s Darfur investigation — which led to arrest warrants for Harun, Kushayb and Bashir — was prompted by a request from the Security Council.
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