Wanted Leader, Al-Bashir arrives Nigeria to red-carpet welcome

Nigeria has made it clear it will not arrest Mr. al-Bashir despite the ICC warrant.

Sudan's leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide in Darfur, arrived Sunday in Abuja to a red-carpet welcome and a full guard of honour despite complaints from activists against the visit.


Mr. al-Bashir is expected to participate in an African Union summit on HIV/AIDS conference starting Monday.

He was indicted by the ICC in 2006, accused of masterminding atrocities during Sudan's Darfur conflict, which left hundreds of thousands dead.

He has been refused trips to Uganda, South Africa, Malawi and Zambia in the past because of his indictment. Only Chad and Djibouti have received al-Bashir in the past year.

The trip to Nigeria is his first to West Africa since the warrant was issued.

Minister of Police Affairs, Kenneth Olubolade, was at the Abuja airport to meet the private presidential jet conveying Mr. al-Bashir on Sunday, along with troops in ceremonial green and white uniforms and a military brass band, the Associated Press reports.

The visit, despite calls from rights activists to arrest Mr. al-Bashir, has sparked condemnations.

Human Rights Watch said in statement that Nigeria had "the shameful distinction of being the first West African country to welcome ICC fugitive Sudanese President Sudan al-Bashir".

Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati said Nigeria only acted in line with the position of the African Union, which had earlier rejected the warrant, initially saying it will hamper peace effort in Sudan, and later accusing the ICC of targeting only African offenders.

"The Sudanese president came for an AU event and the AU has taken a position on the ICC arrest order, so Nigeria has not taken action different from the AU stand," Mr. Abati was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.