The more Bashir runs, the tighter ICC’s noose will get around him

As political mass murderers come and go, African warlords, rebel and militia leaders, and some presidents are the lowest of the low form.

They kill people in such large numbers and brazen ways, that not to punish them would leave the world with no standards at all because you can’t descend lower.

Thirdly, the indictment has increased Bashir’s vulnerability at home.

One shouldn’t be deceived by the street protests in Khartoum against the ICC that followed the issue of the warrant.

Every strongman in Africa has someone in his government or the military looking for an opportunity to grab power from him at his smallest misstep or misfortune.

There must be generals in the Sudanese army and politicians in his own party who would be glad to see Bashir seized and carted off to the ICC, thus creating a vacancy for them to become president.

So while he is still in charge, his lieutenants will not show their hand.

If he were seized and locked up at The Hague, they will too busy fighting over the spoils to miss him. Bashir is toast.

Charles Onyango-Obbo is executive editor for the Nation Media Group’s Africa Media Division