The president of Sudan flew home from South Africa Monday, ignoring a court order to remain in the country. The court had told President Omar al-Bashir to wait until it decided whether he should be arrested.

Mr. Bashir has ruled Sudan for 25 years. The International Criminal Court has charged him with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges resulted from his sending the Sudanese army and supporting Arab militias to suppress a rebellion in the Darfur conflict in 2003.

The Sudanese leader was in South Africa for a meeting of the African Union. His plane was seen leaving Johannesburg on Monday.

Earlier, both the United Nations and the United States called for his arrest.