THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against Darfur rebel leader Abdallah Banda, saying it was “unlikely” that he would voluntarily attend his war crimes trial, which was postponed indefinitely.

Banda faces three war crimes charges for his alleged role in an attack on African Union peacekeepers in September 2007 in northern Darfur. His trial was supposed to start on November 18.

Judges on Thursday said they have had no cooperation from Sudan after asking Khartoum in July to send Banda to the Netherlands for trial.

“The cooperation request had been returned to the court by the Sudanese government without being opened,” The Hague-based ICC said in a statement, adding “cooperation is not forthcoming”.

“The chamber finds... that a warrant of arrest now appears necessary to ensure Mr Banda’s presence at trial,” it added.

The judges pointed out even if Banda, 51, wanted to voluntarily come to The Hague “there are no guarantees that in the current circumstances, he will be in an objective position to appear voluntarily.” About 1,000 assailants took part in the massive attack targeting peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) seven years ago.

Armed with rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns the attackers opened fire on the AU’s military base at Haskanita in southern Sudan, before looting it.

Twelve peacekeepers died in the ambush.

Banda’s co-accused, Saleh Jerbo, 36, who was supposed to accompany him in the dock, has since been killed in fighting, Jerbo’s lawyers told the court last year.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014