Sudan President Omar al-Bashir reportedly escaped South Africa in
his private jet early this morning, just hours after a judge from the
country’s High Court ordered authorities to prevent his leaving.
his private jet early this morning, just hours after a judge from the
country’s High Court ordered authorities to prevent his leaving.
Bashir
has been wanted by the International Criminal Court for six years on
charges including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
From the New York Times:
[South
Africa’s High 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 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.
This
afternoon’s scheduled hearing has apparently now been downgraded to an
interesting thought exercise, as Sudanese authorities have confirmed to
Reuters that Bashir was onboard a private flight that left Pretoria for
the Sundanese capital of Khartoum this morning.
afternoon’s scheduled hearing has apparently now been downgraded to an
interesting thought exercise, as Sudanese authorities have confirmed to
Reuters that Bashir was onboard a private flight that left Pretoria for
the Sundanese capital of Khartoum this morning.
The
ICC has accused Bashir’s government and Arab militias of attacking
black Africans in their battle against rebels, leading to the deaths of
hundreds of thousands of citizens—and the displacement of millions
more—since 2003.
ICC has accused Bashir’s government and Arab militias of attacking
black Africans in their battle against rebels, leading to the deaths of
hundreds of thousands of citizens—and the displacement of millions
more—since 2003.
South
Africa, who hosted Bashir and other leaders at the African Union summit
meeting this weekend in Sandton, South Africa, probably won’t be
punished for allowing Bashir to escape.
Africa, who hosted Bashir and other leaders at the African Union summit
meeting this weekend in Sandton, South Africa, probably won’t be
punished for allowing Bashir to escape.
From the BBC:
It
is unlikely that South Africa will face sanctions for allowing Mr
Bashir to leave the country even after a court order barred him from
doing so, says the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Pretoria.
A
number of African countries have in the past decided not to co-operate
with the ICC. The court has been accused of racism and bias against
African leaders