Assembly/AU/Dec.221(XII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE APPLICATION BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) PROSECUTOR FOR THE INDICTMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN The Assembly: 1. EXPRESSES ITS DEEP CONCERN at the indictment made by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the President of the Republic of The Sudan, H.E. Mr. Omar Hassan Ahmed El Bashir; 2. CAUTIONS that, in view of the delicate nature of the peace processes underway in The Sudan, approval of this application would seriously undermine the ongoing efforts aimed at facilitating the early resolution of the conflict in Darfur; 3. ENDORSES the Communiqué issued by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 142nd meeting, held on 21 July 2008, and URGES the United Nations Security Council, in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Rome Statute of the ICC, and as requested by the PSC at its abovementioned meeting, to defer the process initiated by the ICC. 4. REQUESTS the Commission to implement this Decision by sending a high-level delegation from the African Union for necessary contacts with the UN Security Council; 5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Commission to convene as early as possible, a meeting of the African countries that are parties to the Rome Statute on the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to exchange views on the work of the ICC in relation to Africa, in particular in the light of the processes initiated against African personalities, and to submit recommendations thereon taking into account all relevant elements; 6. REITERATES AU’s unflinching commitment to combating impunity and promoting democracy, the rule of law and good governance throughout the entire Continent, in conformity with its Constitutive Act; 7. CONDEMNS the gross violations of human rights in Darfur, and URGES that the perpetrators be apprehended and brought to justice, and SUPPORTS the decision by the PSC to establish a High-Level Panel of Eminent Personalities under the chairmanship of former President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, to examine the situation in depth, and to submit recommendations on how best the issues of accountability and combating impunity, on the one hand, and reconciliation and healing, on the other, could be effectively and comprehensively addressed;