Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir arrives to meet South Sudan's President at Juba airport on October 15.
JOHANNESBURG – The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010.
He is wanted on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Darfur Conflict which started in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel groups took up arms against Bashir&39;s government. The rebels accused his administration of oppressing Darfur&39;s non-Arab population.
In retaliation Bashir allegedly armed the pro-government Janjaweed militias. The group is accused of committing ethnic cleansing, pillaging and rape against the indigenous people of Darfur. The UN estimates that between 200,000 and 400,000 people have been killed, while 2.5 million more were displaced, by the conflict. Bashir has denied arming the Janjaweed.
In the video below we bring you some background on the ICC&39;s role in Africa. Please note the video was made before a charge against Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta was dropped by ICC prosecutors.
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