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TechnoratiKenya-Sudan relations on hold as court backs Beshir arrest warrant
The Kenyan government on Tuesday saw its hopes of restoring diplomatic and trade ties with Sudan knocked back after the Court of Appeal in Nairobi declined to quash an arrest warrant against President Omar al-Beshir.
On Tuesday the Court of Appeal rejected a government attempt to stay a ruling issued by a High Court judge last month against the Sudanese president.
The ruling by Justice Nicholas Ombija requires the Attorney-General and Internal Security minister to arrest Bashir and hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to answer charges of alleged crimes against humanity.
But the case is not quite closed. A decision on the state’s case against Ombija’s ruling will be made on 24 January and the warrant could be scrapped.
If it is not, Sudan could enforce its threat to stop buying Kenyan tea, coffee and other products. Tea exports to Sudan are worth 150 million euros a year.
Kenyan nationals could also be sent back from the country.
Justice Ombija's ruling had earlier sparked a diplomatic row between Khartoum and Nairobi. Sudan expelled Kenya’s ambassador and recalled its envoy within 12 hours.
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