Sudanese President Omar al Bashir is reportedly still in South Africa as the High Court in Pretoria is scheduled to begin a hearing on whether to order his arrest as demanded by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The court in Pretoria issued an interim order yesterday that Bashir is not to leave the country. The surprise ruling came in spite of Bashir's invitation to attend the African Union summit hosted by South Africa's President Jacob Zuma.

South African reporter Sophie Mokoena reportedly spotted Bashir leaving the Sun Hotel today near the African Union convention centre “amid heavy security.”

Separately, Reuters reported that Sudanese presidency spokesman Mohamed Hatem confirmed earlier today that Bashir is still in South Africa. “President Bashir is still in Johannesburg but we are leaving South Africa today,” he said.

The Sudanese government brushed off the Pretoria court order in statements made via state media from the capital Khartoum yesterday, saying the president was attending the AU summit normally and had assurances that he would leave afterwards without interference.  

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