March 4, 2009- After more than seven months of examining evidence, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Darfur region. President al-Bashir was indicted on two counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity for intentionally directing unlawful attacks against civilians. He is the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC.

The warrant for President al-Bashir's arrest was immediately denounced by Sudanese officials, such as Ambassador to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Abdalahaleem, who said, "We strongly condemn this criminal move…It amounts to an attempt at regime change. We are not going to be bound by it. We are not going to respect it."

As a result of the issuance of the arrest warrant, the Sudanese government has begun to revoke the license of western aid groups, such as Doctors Without Borders, stating that the government can no longer be responsible for their safety.

Analysts are speculating whether or not the indictment will weaken or strengthen President al-Bashir's position within the government. Nick Grono, deputy president of the International Crisis Group said, "although Mr. Bashir and his security apparatus are well entrenched in power, the indictment is likely to weaken their hold. It may even cause the army and intelligence agencies, the ultimate wielders of power, to contemplate a future without Bashir."

However, the call by Salah Gosh, head of Sudanese intelligence, for the "amputation of the hands and the slitting of the throats of any person who dares badmouth al-Bashir or support the International Criminal Courts allegations against him" seem to suggest the rallying of support for President al-Bashir, as well as a potential reinvigoration of violence.

In addressing the United Nation's humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Sudan, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave his utmost assurances that the UN's commitment will not be affected by the decisions of the ICC, as they are independent institutions.