Kenya defends inviting al-Bashir despite ICC warrants

Kenya on Friday defended its invitation to Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who attended its Constitution celebrations despite being under indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide and war crimes.

“President al-Bashir was here today [Friday] because he was invited by the government,” Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula told reporters.

“He was here today because we invited all neighbours and he is a neighbour,” Wetangula added.

Al-Bashir was invited to witness Kenya’s adoption of a Constitution hugely endorsed in a referendum earlier this month.

Kenya, as a signatory to the treaty that set up the ICC, is obliged to cooperate with the court and arrest al-Bashir.—AFP