Sudan’s transitional cabinet has unanimously approved a bill that would allow it to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has announced 

The unanimous decision by the cabinet comes as a surprise development as Sudan is known for gross human rights abuses especially during the time of former President Omar al-Bashir.

Bashir is a former military officer, politician, and war criminal who served as the seventh head of state of Sudan under various titles from 1989 before he was deposed in a coup d’état in 2019.

The draft by the transitional Cabinet has been approved in preparation for a joint meeting between the governing Sovereign Council and the cabinet to pass it into law.

“Justice and accountability are the backbone of the new Sudan, which is committed to the rule of law that we all seek to build,” Mr Hamdok said.

The development moves Sudan closer to handing over to the ICC, suspects wanted for war crimes and genocide including former President Omar al-Bashir.

Since August 2019, Sudan has been led by a transitional civilian-led administration, which has vowed to deliver justice to victims of crimes committed in Darfur during Bashir’s rule.