South Africa court rules against plan to exit ICC

Johannesburg, Feb. 22: A South African court on Wednesday ruled the government’s plan to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) was “unconstitutional and invalid”, providing a boost to the embattled institution.

The ICC has been rocked by threats of withdrawal in recent months, with complaints focusing on its alleged bias against Africa. South Africa announced in October it had lodged its decision to pull out with the UN, following a dispute over Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visiting the country in 2015.

South African authorities refused to arrest Mr Bashir despite him facing an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes, saying he had immunity as a head of state.

“The cabinet decision to deliver the notice of withdrawal...without prior parliamentary approval is unconstitutional and invalid,” said judge Phineas Mojapelo in the North Gauteng High Court. The President and ministers “are ordered to revoke the notice of withdrawal,” he said.

The court ruling was a setback for President Jacob Zuma’s government, which could appeal. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party, which was one of the groups that brought the court case, welcomed the judgement.

“The withdrawal by the South African government from the ICC was irrational and unconstitutional,” said DA lawmaker James Selfie.

He said, “We would like South Africa to stay in the ICC because we believe that it is consistent with our Constitution and with the legacy of Nelson Mandela. The government should go back to the drawing board and reconsider it afresh.”

After the election of President Adama Barrow, The Gambia’s new government in February asked the UN to halt its process of withdrawal from the ICC. Burundi has also registered to leave, while Kenya is considering the move.

Mr Bashir has evaded arrest since his ICC indictment in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur conflict in which 300,000 people were killed and two million forced to flee their homes.