Charles Taylor's verdict a big lesson to leaders hanging in the similar boat

 

Notably, in UK, category A prisoners are kept in high security prisons because their escape would pause a high risk to the public or national security. Taylor, 64, was charged with murder, rape, conscripting child soldiers and sexual slavery during intertwined wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, in which more than 50,000 people were killed.

 

He was found responsible for ordering armed attacks by rebels on the diamond mining town of Kono in eastern Sierra Leone, leading to “Operation No Living Thing”.

 

Human rights groups have welcomed the guilty verdict against former Liberian leader who has been on trial for almost five years. “This is an incredible significant decision,” Elise Keppler from the campaign group Human Rights Watch told the BBC. 

Amnesty International, said the verdict sent an important message to all high-ranking state officials. Taylor is the first former head of state convicted by an international court since the Nuremberg military tribunal of Nazis after World War II. The US State Department said “the ruling sent a strong message to all perpetrators of atrocities, including those in the highest positions of power, that they will be held accountable.”

 

Taylor, 64, a former warlord, has been sentenced 50 years in jail by a UN-backed war crimes court. During the sentencing, Judge Richard Lussick said the crimes in Sierra Leone were the most heinous in human history.

 

Taylor’s ending should be a big lesson to leaders like president Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan who has on his part waged war on the internationally recognized new government of South Sudan which is barely one year in power since it attained independence in July last year following decades of conflict and is still staggering politically, economically and socially. Omar has referred to South Sudan an ‘insect’ government which must be eliminated, by doing this he is putting himself in the category of Col. 

 

Muammar Gaddafi former president of Libya who referred to his fellow citizens as ‘cockroaches’ and ‘rats’. The end story turned out to be different and horrifying. Yes, Gaddafi managed to escape the International Criminal Court which was calling for his immediate arrest and prosecution but he never escaped the very sword he had used to suppress the people of Libya. 

 

President Omar Hassan al-Bashir should at this point reconsider his terrible actions and intentions directed to the people of South Sudan. He may not perish on the frontline like Gaddafi did but the law will finally smoke him out like Charles Taylor.

 

Disrupting peace, security and development initiatives in South Sudan is a serious aggression which should be addressed by UN, AU, USA, France and NATO. All possible avenues should be explored to find the lasting solution to this problem. 

 

On the other hand, strategic peaceful negotiations should be implored besides military actions which may not achieve the intended purpose of restoring democratic reforms in Africa. 

 

For instance, some leaders in Africa such as President Robert Mugabe, 88, of Zimbabwe have expressed regret for their past political mishaps; they are now appear to be better placed to peacefully guide their governments out of political and economic uncertainties.

 

The world community should work round the clock to get both president Omar of Sudan and South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir to a round table to discuss and agree on the issues related to oil revenues which is the lifeline of South Sudan rated at 98% and border lines, especially where Heglig has become a strong point of contention leading to an all-out war contrary to constitutional amendments which may have been reached before by both parties. 

 

All possible constitutional grounds should be revised in the presence of the international security organs. South Sudan took a lion’s share of the former united Sudan’s reserves when it became independent but relies on pipelines to seaports in Sudan to export it. This kind of structure should also be considered to avoid a repeat of the political crisis compared to that of Libya, Somalia and Syria.

 

For instance, Salva Kiir was speaking as he met Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Beijing, after arriving there on Monday for a five-day visit. He said his visit came “at a very critical moment for the Republic of South Sudan because our neighbor in Khartoum has declared war on the Republic of South Sudan.” 

 

The analysts say Mr Kiir is clearly escalating the war of words, possibly intended to draw China into the mediation process. In response, Mr Hu has urged calm and restraint on both Sudans. Importantly, USA, France, China and Russia should schedule a meeting to constructively discuss their interests in Sudan and South Sudan, considering the fact that they are the major political and economic players in both countries.

 

Salva Kiir’s official visit to China was prematurely cut short simply because China at the same time was playing host to a delegation from Sudan which is considered to be her longtime political and economic ally. This is a strong message to AU and the West that are keenly following the unfolding political events in the Sudan region.

President Omar Hassan al-Bashir should be reminded of the fact that he willingly endorsed the secession of the government of South Sudan when people voted in an overwhelming referendum in January 2011. He promised to respect the people’s vote and even honored Salva Kiir’s invitation extended to him to attend the inaugural independence celebrations in Juba. His presence in the south on that important day reaffirmed their historically founded political and economic relations. 

 

In so doing Omar is internationally considered a father-figure who is supposed to nurture, mentor and guide the political developments in South Sudan to a right direction which in a long run may benefit Khartoum. By waging shameful war on South Sudan he is in essence fighting and trying to deform a baby born just yesterday who is trying to get to his or her two feet.

We therefore need to see a restoration of a peaceful working atmosphere in both countries for the good of their people and foreign investments. The two states may be politically and geographically separated from each other for one reason or another but historically they share a strong bond in diverse ways. 

 

We will also want to see an end to the Syrian political crisis which should not in any way be handled with kid gloves. Russia and China should be pressured to take action on Syria to save all the endangered lives of men, women and children. It is reported that about 15,000 people have been killed since the revolt against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad began in March, last year.

 

The writer works with Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Western Regional Overseer.