Omar al-Bashir Moved to Medical Facility from Jail
In a significant development, Sudan’s former leader Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted from power in a popular uprising several years ago, has been relocated from a jail north of Omdurman to a medical facility.
Health Concerns Prompt Transfer
Since the outbreak of war in April last year between the Sudanese military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the 80-year-old al-Bashir has been held at a military facility on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum. His deteriorating health necessitated the move to a better-equipped hospital in the town of Merowe, about 330 kilometers (205 miles) north of Khartoum.
Age-Related Complications
Al-Bashir’s lawyer, Mohamed al-Hassan al-Amin, revealed that the former leader requires treatments that were not available at the previous facility. Al-Bashir has been suffering from age-related complications and high blood pressure, prompting the need for regular checks and follow-ups.
Additional Transfers
Al-Amin also mentioned that Sudan’s former Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein, who was arrested shortly after al-Bashir, was also transferred to the same medical facility due to heart-related problems.
International Criminal Court Indictment
Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades before being overthrown in 2019, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. The ICC has indicted both al-Bashir and Hussein on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Refusal to Hand Over Suspects
Despite ICC requests, Sudan’s military rulers have declined to hand over al-Bashir and others wanted by the court for trial. Al-Bashir, Hussein, and other officials were initially held in a Khartoum prison before being moved to a fortified military base after an attack by the Rapid Support Forces in April last year.
