Uptodown-id South Africa to Leave ICC
South Africa says it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court. Justice Minister Michael Musutha said Friday a bill will be submitted to parliament recommending that South Africa repeal the Rome Statute that created the court. The statue legally obligates its signatories to arrest anyone sought by the ICC, which was established to bring to justice the perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. African countries, however, say the court has solely focused on leaders on their continent. South Africa's decision to withdraw can be traced back to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's controversial visit to South Africa last year for a two-day meeting of African Union heads of state. Under the Rome Statute, South Africa could have arrested Bashir as he was wanted by the ICC on genocide charges. But while a South African court considered the matter, Bashir defied an order to remain in South Africa and instead returned home to Khartoum, putting him out of reach of South African authorities. South African officials said Bashir enjoyed diplomatic immunity as a delegate to the AU summit in Johannesburg. Bashir spent no more than 48 hours in Johannesburg during the summit and gave no speeches, while avoiding the media. That trip was the closest the Sudanese president has come to being arrested since he was charged with war crimes and genocide by the ICC in 2009 over the long-running conflict in Darfur, where the United Nations estimates some 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million displaced. The South African court handed down the order for Bashir's arrest just hours after he left the country. South Africa's decision to leave the ICC comes just days after Burundi announced it is also leaving the ICC. Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza signed the bill Tuesday.
Source : South Africa to Leave ICC
Put the internet to work for you.
