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President Jacob Zuma

CAPE TOWN. — Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir did not come to the country on South Africa’s invitation, President Jacob Zuma said in the National Assembly yesterday.

“Bashir coming to South Africa — it was by invitation of the African Union (AU) and once he is here, he is a guest of the AU,” he said in response to a question by the DA Mmusi Maimane.

Maimane had asked what steps President Zuma was taking to strengthen the separation of powers. In a follow-up, he asked how the President was upholding the law, but not arresting President Bashir as per the law.

President Zuma said he had answered the question and his answer stood.

He said after the AU asked to hold the summit in South Africa, wherever it operated while in the country, it became AU area.

“That’s why the minister of international relations and co-operation, 10 days before, gazetted the area that would be the AU area, from the airport to the specific areas where the head of states would be staying,” President Zuma said. — News24.