The Wire

The United Nations has today started withdrawing staff from the Sudanese region of Darfur. The move came as the International Criminal Court asked judges in The Hague to seek the arrest of Sudan’s president, Omar al Bashir. Prosecutors say the President is guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. As early as 2004 US Secretary of State Colin Powell branded the conflict in Sudan as genocide, and a major humanitarian crisis. But the international community has been ineffectual in stemming the tide of violence. With some observers now fearing a violent backlash from the government, will the charges against the President, help, or harm the Sudanese people.