Sudan expels Kenyan Ambassador

Kenya’s ambassador to Sudan Robert Mutua Ngesu has been expelled from the country following Monday’s court issue of an arrest warrant against President Omar al-Bashir.

According to the Sudan embassy in Nairobi, the Kenyan ambassador in Khartoum was given a 72 hour ultimatum to leave the country.

Speaking exclusively to Channel one, Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya Beder el din Abdalla Mohammed also confirmed that he had been recalled back to Sudan from his Nairobi office.

In a statement from Sudan’s Embassy in Nairobi Tuesday, Sudan’s government expresses its disappointment in the high court ruling.

"Sudan is one of the earliest countries that established strong relations with Kenya since its independence. Both countries maintain and preserve cordial relations throughout that period. The court’s ruling of yesterday was a serious damage to the bilateral relations between the two countries."

"This ruling has to do with the sovereignty of Sudan and it is very difficult for the Sudan Government to accept the interference of an international NGO to hamper the relations between the two countries. Based on the above, the Sudan Government has recalled its Ambassador in Nairobi for consultations and requested the Kenyan Ambassador to Khartoum to leave the country within 72 hours."

Sudan has fallen short of condemning Kenya for not abiding by AU resolution to hold on to ICC’s request for Bahir’s arrest. In the statement Sudan’s government quotes

"Due to the political nature of the international criminal court (ICC) process in the Sudan file, the African Union member countries have agreed not to cooperate with the ICC and all African countries should abide by that resolution"

Sudan has put it categorical that the ruling was a serious damage to the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The statement continues to say "This ruling has to do with the sovereignty of Sudan and it is very difficult for the Sudan government to accept the interference of an international NGO to hamper the relations between the two countries."

Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya Beder el din Abdalla Mohammed confirmed that he has been recalled back to Khartoum for consultations on the issue.

President Bashir last visited Kenya on August 27, 2010 when he showed up as a surprise guest of the Government during the promulgation of Kenya’s new Constitution.

In his ruling, Judge Nicolas Ombija said Bashir’s arrest "should be effected by the Attorney General and the minister for internal security should he ever set foot in Kenya in a case was filed by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).

Bashir is wanted in The Hague-based ICC for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Sudan’s Darfur region, where the UN says at least 300,000 people have been killed in the eight-year conflict.

He denies the charges, saying they are politically motivated.