Court orders Sudan president to stay in South Africa until arrest ruling
A legal rights group launched an urgent application for South African authorities to arrest Bashir
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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir attends an African Union summit in 2013 (AFP) |
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Sunday 14 June 2015 17:04 BST
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A South African court on Sunday issued a temporary ban on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir leaving the country after the International Criminal Court (ICC) called for his arrest at a summit of African leaders in Johannesburg.
A court statement said it was "compelling respondents to prevent President Omar Al-Bashir from the leaving the country until an order is made in this court".
Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, however, insisted that Bashir would return to Sudan after the summit's main meeting, despite the court order.
"It is difficult to give details of President Bashir's timetable, but he will return when the main session is over. This could be today or tomorrow. I will not go into the details," Kamal Ismail said at a press conference.
"Until now, things are normal and there is no risk to his excellency the president," Ismail said.
A hearing in Pretoria High Court is set to take place later on Sunday.
The ruling allowing Sunday's ban came after the Southern African Litigation Centre, a legal rights group, launched an urgent court application to force the authorities to arrest Bashir.
In a separate application last week, the South African Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) filed a request for the arrest of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who had been scheduled to attend the same summit - but cancelled soon after the association's request was publicised.
MLA representatives said they believe Sisi has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity since coming to power in a 2013 military coup.
Bashir, who is wanted over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict, mostly travels to countries that have not joined the ICC, but South Africa is a signatory of the court's statutes.
A South African government official at the African Union summit confirmed media reports that Bashir was at the event, but he declined to give further details.
The ICC said in a statement from its headquarters in The Hague that it "calls on South Africa... to spare no effort in ensuring the execution of the arrest warrants" against Bashir.
In the past, the African Union has refused to work with the ICC, halting proceedings against sitting leaders and accusing the court of unfairly targeting Africans.