Must Africans choose al-Bashir as a friend?

Geoff Sifrin

TAKING ISSUE

In 2008, the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted al-Bashir for war crimes committed in the conflict in Darfur, which led to the death of some 300 000 people and displacement of 2.5 million. Warrants of arrest were issued against him by the ICC in 2009 and 2010 on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and three counts of genocide.

Al-Bashir has a history with Jews when it comes to Darfur. In June 2006, after saying he would bar United Nations Peacekeepers from entering the region, he accused the UN of wanting “to colonise Africa, starting with the first sub-Saharan country to gain its independence”.

He told journalists that Jews were causing trouble for him, referring to the Save Darfur Rally in Washington and other US locations that year: “It is clear that there is a purpose behind the heavy propaganda and media campaigns… If we return to the last demonstrations in the United States, and the groups that organised the demonstrations, we find that they are all Jewish organisations.”

ADL National Director Abe Foxman commented at the time: “In pointing the finger at Jewish involvement in the campaign to draw attention to genocide in Darfur, President al-Bashir is playing an old game. Those who engage in or tolerate genocide always try to divert attention from their actions. Blaming Jews is a favourite choice … We in the Jewish community take pride in our leadership role in opposing this genocide and calling for international intervention. The Sudanese leader’s ranting is a badge of honour for the Jewish community.”

The South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation includes the Darfur genocide among its examples of crimes against humanity in Africa – along with the Rwandan genocide. In 2007, an important exhibition Witnessing Darfur was displayed at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre, then toured the country in 2008.

At the AU summit, al-Bashir posed unashamedly for pictures with other African leaders, then departed. This was despite the Pretoria High Court issuing an interim order prohibiting him from leaving the country until the case could resume on Monday regarding his possible arrest and handing over to the ICC. The government’s decision not to detain him is a slap in the face to the rule of law in South Africa. It ignored the court’s ruling. Its disregard for international law, as well as our own domestic law – our own courts! – is deeply troubling.

Amnesty International is outraged. It said Tuesday that the “shocking failure” to arrest al-Bashir was a betrayal to the hundreds of thousands killed in Darfur: “South Africa’s role was clear from the day President Omar al-Bashir touched down in the country – he should have been arrested and handed over to the ICC to face trial for the war crimes he is alleged to have committed … the South African authorities, under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma, have through their inaction, aided Omar al-Bashir in his quest to avoid justice.”

Why is our government cosying up to one of the world’s most infamous villains? This saga has reinforced the growing feeling that South Africa is becoming more ‘African’ in a negative way, rather than a positive way. The international human rights language – largely European and western in origin – current during the anti-apartheid struggle and Mandela’s era is growing fainter. Different loyalties are taking preference: allegiance to other African leaders just because they are African, rather than universal principles of human rights. An anti-ICC movement has emerged within the AU, claiming the court disproportionately targets African leaders.

South African Jews need to be clear: Our government – led by the ANC – has helped a perpetrator of genocide escape justice by breaking its own domestic laws. Jews are a tiny white minority group in this country, with reason to be cautious about our relationship to the powers that be. Will we be silent for fear of antagonising them? Or shout it to the rooftops?

Geoff Sifrin is former editor of the SAJR. He writes this column in his personal capacity.