The court's chief prosecutor this week charged Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir with genocide and war crimes and called for his arrest.

Warrnambool Sudanese community leader Otha Akoch said yesterday he was pleased the wheels of justice had begun to turn.

``He should be judged,'' Mr Akoch said.

``No man is above the law.''

On Mr al-Bashir's orders, pro-government forces slaughtered some 35,000 civilians beginning in March 2003 and raped thousands of women and girls, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said.

Mr Akoch's niece Akech Akoch arrived in Australia last week with her brother Bidfeng after spending five years waiting for repatriation in Egypt.

She said Sudan had ``changed completely'' since Mr al-Bashir became president in 1989.

The Muslim regime made it law for Christian Sudanese people to be Muslim.

``If you were not a Muslim you were treated as a second-class citizen,'' Ms Akoch, 29, said through a translator.

``He put people against each other and created hostilities and generated religious hatred.

``He made things very difficult. No one deserves to be treated that way.''

Ms Akoch and her brother watched in horror as pro-government militia shot their father dead in their village in southern Sudan 18 years ago.

They both fled the country to neighbouring Egypt in 2003.

Mr Akoch has lived in Warrnambool since 2000 and was pleased his niece and nephew could live a life of equality and safety in Australia.

``They are surprised at how people who don't even know them can be so kind to them,'' he said.

``They are very lucky.''

An ICC three-judge panel must now determine whether to issue a warrant for Mr al-Bashir's arrest, a process that could take months.

But Mr Akoch said the wait would be worth it.

``It would be a crime to let these crimes continue,'' he said.

``The international community should be alert and monitor what is happening (in Sudan) and the Government's reaction.'' with AAP