Today in Johannesburg, a document confirming the withdrawal of South Africa from the International Criminal Court (ICC) was published by public broadcaster, SABC’s UN correspondent and was signed by International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
According to reports by The Guardian, the “Instrument of Withdrawal” letter said South Africa “found that its obligations with respect to the peaceful resolution of conflicts at times are incompatible with the interpretation given by the International Criminal Court.”
The decision to withdraw from the court follows a dispute last year in which the president of Sudan, Omar Al-Bahir was allowed to visit South Africa for an AU Summit even though he was facing an arrest warrant from the ICC.
This decision by South Africa led to a flow of condemnation which made the Government threaten to withdraw from the court. South Africa said Bashir had immunity as the head of a member state.
The ICC wants Bashir arrested for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Earlier this month, Burundi said it would withdraw from the court, and Namibia and Kenya have also raised the possibility.
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