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Court Invalidates South Africa’s Decision to Leave ICC

epa04616266 South African President Jacob Zuma arrives for the opening of parliament to deliver his State Of The Nation Address in Cape Town, South Africa, 12 February 2015. Reports state that South African President Jacob Zuma is expected to be met with hostility during his State of the Nation speech, with questions being raised over the corruption scandal surrounding his 20 million euro private estate, a national electricity crisis and oppostion parties threatening to disrupt his speech. EPA/NIC BOTHMA / POOL

South Africa’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been ruled “unconstitutional and invalid” by the High Court.

South Africa notified the UN of its intention to leave last October, accusing the ICC of undermining its sovereignty.

But the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) argued that the government had to first seek parliamentary approval.

The court ordered the government to revoke its notice of withdrawal.

The decision to pull out came after a dispute over Sudanese President Omar al-Bashar’s visit to the country in 2015.

South African authorities refused to arrest Mr Bashir despite him facing an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes.

Mr Bashir was attending an African Union summit in Johannesburg, when the government ignored an ICC request to arrest him.

The DA welcomed the judgement.

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

“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.”

BBC

 

 

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