African National Congress Backtracks decision to Quit ICC
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa backtracks on decision to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing ‘communication’ errors from its ruling party.
According to VOA reports, South Africa has retracted its decision to quit the ICC in contradiction to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s suggestion citing a “communication error”, on Tuesday. Earlier, President Ramaphosa leader of the ruling ANC (African National Congress) party, had claimed his party was inclined toward quitting the international criminal court after it had issued an arrest warrant for Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
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According to reports, the warrant issued by the ICC meant Putin would be detained upon arrival in Pretoria, hosting this year’s bloc summit by hosting Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, respectively. A statement issued by Ramaphosa’s office, as a late-night retraction, read: “The presidency wishes to clarify that South Africa remains a signatory (to the ICC)”.
The International Criminal Court building is seen in The Hague, Netherlands, January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
The statement added that the clarification “follows an error in comment” made during the media briefing by the ANC. On the other hand, representatives of the ANC had informed journalists they had raised the issue to withdraw from the ICC in an earlier meeting of its national executive council.
After which, in a joint media briefing with President Sauli Niinisto of Finland, President Ramaphosa had said the ANC was decided on the track, adding “it is prudent that South Africa should pull out”.
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In another statement, issued on Tuesday, the ANC said that an “unintended impression” has been created however, “This is not so”.
According to VOA news, the ICC had issued a warrant for Putin after accusations that he had deported Ukrainian children unlawfully. While addressing the question of arresting Putin, Ramaphosa said, “that matter is under consideration”.
It is worth mentioning that Pretoria has maintained close ties with the Moscow administration for decades since the Kremlin showed support to the ANC in its fight against apartheid. This is also why the administration has not condemned the Ukrainian invasion citing concerns of neutrality and preferring dialogue to end the Russo-Ukrainian war.
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Earlier, South Africa had attempted to withdraw from the ICC in 2016 after a dispute when the then-Sudanese President al-Bashir visited the country for an African Union summit. The country had refused to arrest him despite an arrest warrant for “alleged war crimes”. At the time, South Africa backtracked from its decision when its local court argued the move would be “unconstitutional”.
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