Zuma shows disdain for human rights by meeting Al-Bashir

3 September 2015

The meeting between President Zuma and wanted war criminal, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, yet again illustrates that President Zuma has abandoned human rights as the light that guides our foreign policy.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns this meeting and the message it sends to the international community about our respect for international law and human rights.

Al-Bashir is wanted for intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population that resulted in the death of an estimated 400,000 fellow Africans in Darfur. The charges against him includes murder, extermination, forcible transfer, rape, torture and genocide.

President Zuma has also accepted an invitation from Al-Bashir to visit Sudan later this year, again reflecting that President Zuma does not believe in justice for grave human rights violations.

These events come only days after the ANC used their majority to block the DA’s motion to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate charges of impeachment against the President for his deliberate decision to allow Al-Bashir to escape South African on 15 June in violation of domestic and international law.

President Zuma’s decision to meet with Al-Bashir, and accept his invitation to visit Sudan, adds insult to the injury he has caused to our Constitution, and the principle of the separation of powers that underlies our democratic order.

Statement issued by Stevens Mokgalapa MP, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, 3 August 2015