Kenya Slaps World In Face, Welcomes Genocide Maker Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
This story was buried on the last page of section one in my morning paper. It was a story that merited more attention, given the savage nature of Sudan’s ruler. I often wonder how those in power can sleep after aligning themselves with slugs such as President Omar al-Bashir. If Kenya would have stood tall and arrested the Sudanese President and sent his sorry ass to the Hauge the world would be reading about the actions of a brave African nation. Instead the world was subjected to a sad and telling story about the failure of Kenya being able to stand up to its duties, and its failure to become a real part of the world community.
Sudan’s president, who faces charges of genocide in connection with massacres in Darfur, attended the signing of Kenya’s new constitution Friday at the invitation of the government here, deepening tensions between this East African nation and the International Criminal Court.
The court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. As a signatory of the treaty establishing the international court, Kenya is required to take Mr. Bashir into custody and turn him over to the Netherlands-based court to stand trial.
But on Friday, President Bashir sat with other dignitaries and heads of state at a ceremony celebrating the adoption of a new Kenyan constitution that aims to curb corruption, impose new checks on executive power and reduce ethnic tensions.
Clad in a dark suit, Mr. Bashir joined in releasing white doves—symbols of peace—to mark the occasion.
Political analysts said Kenya’s welcome of Mr. Bashir at such a pivotal time is a sign of Nairobi’s desire to bolster ties with Sudan, Africa’s largest country and one with which Kenya shares a border. It is also intended to serve as a pointed message to Western powers that it won’t be pushed around.
When is comes to morals and ethics no one considers it being ‘pushed around’ if the right thing is done. Either one stands on the correct side of history, or one stands on the wrong side.
Kenya made a decision.
It was the wrong one.
