Originally published on the CGS blog on October 20, 2011.
Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) has called for Malawi to be dropped from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) aid program, in the wake of the country’s recent decision to host Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir despite Bashir’s indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a letter to President Obama, Rep. Wolf asserted that in light of Malawi’s actions, if the U.S. continues aid to Malawi, it would be “complicit in aiding a genocidal government.”
Bashir has been charged by the ICC with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide stemming from the violence in Darfur. Malawi is a state party to the ICC, and is therefore obligated to arrest Bashir and any other individuals wanted by the Court as soon as they step foot on its soil. It’s deeply disappointing that Malawi failed to live up to its duty as an ICC member in this case, and I applaud Rep. Wolf for speaking out. To read CGS’s letter thanking Rep. Wolf, click here.
The pattern of failure of ICC state parties like Malawi to arrest Bashir and other indictees and allow them to visit their countries with impunity needs to end. Chad, Kenya, and Djibouti have already hosted Bashir, which is simply unacceptable. The ICC will only work when all its members live up to their obligations and refuse to allow war criminals like Bashir to take a holiday from international justice.
