Shortly after his arrival the South African High Court began deliberating whether to arrest him after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a request that the South African authorities arrest him.
The President of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir, arrived in Sudan’s capital Khartoum moments ago according to media reports. President Bashir arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa on Satruday to attend the African Union (AU) Summit.
Shortly after his arrival the South African High Court began deliberating whether to arrest him after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a request that the South African authorities arrest him.
President Bashir, who ascended to power through a coup in 1989, has a warrant for his arrest by the ICC for Crimes Against Humanity and Crimes of Genocide for his government’s actions in the Darfur region of Sudan, and numerous other atrocities.
Bashir arrived in his traditional white garments waving his trademark cane as he stepped off the plane and shouted, “God is greatest!”.
"What was being circulated was propaganda, and his participation confirms the President is one of Africa's leaders,” he told media at the airport in Khartoum.
Bashir was greeted by a host of ministers and dignitaries in addition to a crowd of 1,000 supporters as he walked down a red carpet upon his arrival.
Reports have emerged that President Bashir fled South Africa through a military air base, where his plane was moved once news broke that the South African High Court could arrest him on the ICC warrant.
It is widely believed that South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, assisted with Bashir’s escape.
The United Nations estimates that at least 300,000 people have been murdered in Darfur by Bashir’s regime.