Judge outlines court ruling on Al-Bashir

Pretoria High Court Judge Dunstan Mlambo has ruled that government violated a court order that the department of home affairs prevent Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir from leaving the country.

Describing how the court came to learn after its ruling that Al-Bashir be arrested and handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to be tried for human rights violations that he had already left the country‚ he said this was "in our view‚ a clear violation of the order".

The South African government had previously warned the Sudanese leader that he would be arrested if he set foot on South African soil.

"For this reason‚ President Bashir declined South Africa’s invitation to attend the inauguration."

Mlambo outlined how South Africa and 30 other African states had signed up for the ICC and that South Africa had passed an act of Parliament "domesticating the statute".

He said the statute required that South Africa "co-operate fully with the court".

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