Malloch-Brown Defends ICC as Tool Against Africa

June 10 (EIRNS)—Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, British Minister for Africa (business partner of mega-speculator and drug legalizer George Soros), yesterday, in a speech in Mozambique, defended the International Criminal Court (ICC), which he and Soros were instrumental in founding. The Court, which is not part of the UN or any other international body, was founded as a tool to wreck the sovereignty of nations. So far, it has only been used against Africa.

Reacting to widespread criticism of the ICC, Malloch-Brown said that he rejects the "rhetoric of neo-colonial conspiracy," pointing out that the ICC had been ratified by 30 African countries, and has had cases referred to it by the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Uganda. He neglected to mention that all of these cases were motivated by these governments' efforts to stop foreign-backed insurgencies. He declared condescendingly that the ICC was an important "last resort" to deliver justice in Africa, and said the role of the ICC was an indication that international law was beginning to thrive in Africa, and emphasized it has "a pivotal role in justice in Africa." He didn't mention that aid agreements made by the former colonial powers could be broken if African nations abandoned their commitment to the ICC. (The United States is not a member of the ICC.)

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, against whom the ICC issued an arrest warrant last year, attended a summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) in Zimbabwe this weekend. The summit, which was chaired by President Robert Mugabe, called on the UN Security Council to delay the implementation of the warrant against Bashir.

Sudan: Beginning of the End of the Darfur Crisis

June 11 (EIRNS)—In Sudan, more people are being killed in ethnic conflicts in South Sudan, than are being killed in the Darfur conflict in western Sudan, according to a statement made to the UN early this month. Sima Samar, UN special representative on human rights in Sudan, referred to the statement June 5 in Khartoum, after she completed a visit to Sudan. This report coheres with reports received by an EIR delegation on a visit there in early April.

Ghazi Salaheddin, an advisor to President Omar al-Bashir, said today, in an interview with AFP, that the Darfur conflict is almost over. Ghazi has been made Sudan's new point-man for Darfur, which is seen by Sudanese observers as an important signal of change of approach, in response to the more congenial approach being used by U.S. special envoy Scott Gration. Ghazi attacked the ICC offensive against Bashir, but is also seen as a conciliator, and is inviting more rebel leaders to join the negotiation process.

Ghazi has blamed the classic British divide-and-rule tactics of colonialism for the trouble in Sudan.

Four aid organizations that were expelled by Sudan after the ICC issued its warrant for the arrest of Bashir, are now being allowed to return, after registering under slightly different names. Others of the 13 expelled groups are also expected to return.