Damanga Supports Nigerian Activists Calling for Al-Bashir's Arrest

October 27, 2009

 Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy strongly supports Oby Nwankwo (of Africa),  in her call for Nigeria to arrest Omar Al-Bashir. Oby Nwankwo sits on the International Council on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Omar Al-Bashir is the ICC-indicted president of Sudan, who plans to visit Nigeria later this week in order to attend the African Union (AU) summit. Damanga considers Ms. Nwankwo's initiative bold and courageous, She asks that the Nigerian president fulfill his country's obligation as a signatory of the ICC Rome statute, and as a member of the United Nations (UN). Furthermore,  she supports the will of the Nigerian public,to prompt Al-Bashir's arrest.
 
According to Mohamed Yahya, Damanga's excecutive director, "It is very important for Nigeria to do the right thing to honor the people of Darfur and all of Africa and the world. It is an ethical and moral responsibility for a leader of one of the biggest Africancountries to respond to the call of his people and his personal conscience." He went on to say, "The image of Nigeria would be in question and it's credibility would be terribly damaged if justice was not served in these critical moments that the whole international community is watching. It is time to make history, and time for accountability. Whoever brings Al-Bashir to justice, will become a real hero of this century and forever." The United Nations, United States, the European Union, the African Union, and the rest of the international community must support and cooperate with political leaders and civilians who respect justice and human rights. It is time to end the Darfur catastrophe and bring lasting peace and democracy to those who have waited so long.