The Sudanese  minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Joseph Alkelo, flew into Banjul, yesterday, as a special envoy of President Al-Bashir to deliver a written message to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, which was received on his behalf by the vice-president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy at State House, Banjul.

The government of Sudan is seeking the support of The Gambia against the extradition request issued by the Hague-based International  Criminal Court, ICC, against President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes committed in Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur. The extradition request was issued by the ICC's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, on July 14, 2008.

Speaking to journalists shortly after delivering the message to Dr Njie-Saidy, Mr Akelo said the content centred on the Darfur crisis which resulted to the ICC's request for the extradition of President Bashir. To him, the allegations are "false" prompting them to seek the support of The Gambia.

"Because we thought if the indictment is carried out, it will wreck all the achievements we [Sudanese] registered in the Darfur crisis," he said.

The way forward

According to the Sudanese envoy, his country is of the firm belief that suspending the indictment request and allowing the case to be argued by African lawyers is the best way forward.

In addition, he went on, Sudan will continue to pursue the path of peace with groups still reluctant to sign a peace accord with the government.

"We are telling our brothers,  let us suspend the indictment and give us [Sudanese people] the time to pursue the path to peace," he stressed.

Assurance

Mr Akelo who concluded his sixth country tour in Banjul said, "I had strong assurance from all the countries I visited that they would stand by Sudan. This is because it is an African initiative and they say they would support the initiative."