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Omar al-Bashir of Sudan Appears to Leave South Africa, Avoiding Arrest Omar al-Bashir of Sudan Appears to Leave South Africa, Avoiding Arrest
(35 minutes later)
JOHANNESBURG — President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, who faced arrest on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide, appeared to have slipped out of South Africa on Monday morning, dealing a serious blow to the International Criminal Court’s six-year campaign to bring him to justice. JOHANNESBURG — President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, who faced arrest on international charges of crimes against humanity and genocide, slipped out of South Africa on Monday morning, dealing a serious blow to the International Criminal Court’s six-year campaign to bring him to justice.
Mr. Bashir’s private jet was seen flying out of a South African military airport near Pretoria, apparently unhindered by the South African authorities who had been ordered by the country’s High Court to prevent him from departing. Mr. Bashir’s private jet was seen flying out of a South African military airport near Pretoria, apparently unhindered by the South African authorities who had been ordered by their country’s High Court to prevent him from departing.
Sudan’s minister for information later said that Mr. Bashir was aboard the plane and was expected back in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, on Monday evening, according to the Sudanese News Agency. But Sudanese officials have given conflicting information about his whereabouts during his two-day visit here, claiming at one point on Sunday that he had already left South Africa. A lawyer for the South African government confirmed on Monday afternoon that Mr. Bashir had left, and Sudan’s minister for information told reporters that Mr. Bashir was aboard the plane and was expected back in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, on Monday evening. Sudanese officials had given conflicting information about his whereabouts during his two-day visit here, claiming at one point on Sunday that he had already left South Africa.
His apparent departure came as a High Court resumed a hearing on the South African government’s legal responsibility toward Mr. Bashir. The hearing began on Monday afternoon, but Mr. Bashir’s departure would make the proceedings moot. His departure came as the High Court resumed a hearing on the South African government’s legal responsibility toward Mr. Bashir. The hearing began on Monday afternoon, but Mr. Bashir’s departure would make the proceedings moot.
The court on Sunday issued an order calling for authorities to prevent Mr. Bashir from leaving the country because of the charges against him at the criminal court. A ruling was expected Monday over whether the government was required to arrest him and hand him over. The court on Sunday issued an order calling for the authorities to prevent Mr. Bashir from leaving the country because of the charges against him at the International Criminal Court. A ruling was expected Monday over whether the government was required to arrest him and hand him over.
The case has pitted the International Criminal Court against the South African government, which had argued that heads of state had immunity while attending the African Union meeting. It is also being watched a test of the resolve of the criminal court, which lacks a police force to enforce its rulings and must rely on diplomatic pressure and the cooperation of nations to ensure that its rulings or indictments are enforced. The case has pitted the International Criminal Court against the South African government, which had argued that heads of state had immunity while attending the African Union meeting. It is also being watched as a test of the reach of the criminal court, which lacks a police force to enforce its rulings and must rely on diplomatic pressure and the cooperation of nations to ensure that its rulings or indictments are enforced.
On Monday, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, added his voice to the debate, saying that the International Criminal Court’s warrant must be respected by countries which have agreed to its statutes. On Monday, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, added his voice to the debate, saying that the International Criminal Court’s warrant must be respected by countries that have agreed to its statutes.
“The International Criminal Court’s warrant for the arrest of President al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes is a matter I take extremely seriously,” he said in Geneva, according to news agencies.“The International Criminal Court’s warrant for the arrest of President al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes is a matter I take extremely seriously,” he said in Geneva, according to news agencies.
In the face of recalcitrance by member states to cooperate and Sudan’s failure to extradite Mr. Bashir, the international court asked the United Nations Security Council in March to help it enforce the arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir. The Sudanese government has been the subject of a criminal investigation by the court for its actions during the conflict in Darfur, when hundreds of thousands of people were killed. In the face of recalcitrance by member states to cooperate and Sudan’s failure to extradite Mr. Bashir, the international court asked the United Nations Security Council in March to help it enforce the arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir. The Sudanese government has been the subject of a criminal investigation by the court for its actions during the conflict in Darfur, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.
In 2009, Mr. Bashir and three other senior officials were indicted on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In 2009, Mr. Bashir and three other senior officials were indicted on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In 2010, the international court also charged Mr. Bashir with three counts of genocide.
However, the court, in The Hague, has struggled to carry out the indictment in the face of resistance, not just from Sudan, but from African governments, which argue that the court has unfairly and disproportionately targeted leaders from Africa. However, the court, in The Hague, has struggled to carry out the indictment in the face of resistance, not just from Sudan, but also from African governments, which argue that the court has unfairly and disproportionately targeted leaders from Africa.