Uganda offers Sudan’s Bashir asylum

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Uganda said Tuesday it is willing to offer asylum to deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his family should he request it.

''If Bashir or members of his family apply for asylum, their applications can be considered by the president,'' said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem.

He said Bashir worked a lot for peace in the region, noting he played an important role in the South Sudan peace agreement and his efforts should be appreciated.

Bashir was recently overthrown by the military following months of protests against his three-decade dictatorship. He is reportedly being detained in the capital Khartoum.

Oryem met earlier in the day with the country's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs to discuss a number of issues, including Sudan.

He said Uganda is monitoring the situation in Sudan and is interested in seeing a peaceful transition there.

Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2009 for crimes against humanity in the country’s Darfur region. Despite a request by the ICC to have him arrested, Bashir traveled to several countries, including Uganda, where he was assured that they would not hand him over.