South Africa’s ruling party wants the country STOP the ‘unfair’ International Criminal Court – meaning it won’t have to detain Putin for war crimes if he visits a summit later this year
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said not all countries are treated equally
- ICC arrest warrant means Pretoria should detain Putin upon arrival
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday his ruling ANC party had decided that South Africa should leave the “unfair” International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March, meaning Pretoria, which will host this year’s block summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, should detain him upon arrival.
“Yes, the ruling party … has made the decision that it is prudent for South Africa to withdraw from the ICC,” Ramaphosa said at a press conference co-hosted with Finland’s visiting president Sauli Niinisto.
Ramaphosa said the decision, which follows a weekend meeting of the African National Congress (ANC), was made “largely” because of what is perceived as the court’s unfair treatment of certain countries.
“We would like to see this issue of unfair treatment properly discussed, but in the meantime the ruling party has again decided that there should be a withdrawal,” he said.
Pictured: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (L) hold a joint press conference during his state visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on April 25, 2023
In the photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo). The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March, meaning Pretoria, which will host this year’s block summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, should detain him upon arrival
Putin’s arrest warrant followed allegations that the Kremlin had unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.
On whether South Africa would arrest Putin, Ramaphosa said “the matter is under consideration.”
But his party’s general secretary, Fikile Mbalula, previously stated that “Putin will arrive in this country at any moment.”
“This ICC does not serve the interests of everyone, but the interests of a few,” Mbalula said at a separate press conference.
Pretoria has close ties with Moscow dating back to when the Kremlin supported the ANC’s fight against apartheid.
The continental powerhouse has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to remain neutral and prefers dialogue to end the war.
Pictured: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (L) arrive at the welcome ceremony for his state visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on April 25, 2023
South Africa has “adopted this stance of being non-aligned to ensure that we as a country can play a role in helping end conflict,” Ramaphosa said.
He said he had spoken to Putin several times and “my message was clear. There must be negotiation’.
It is not the first time South Africa has attempted to withdraw from the ICC.
It made an attempt in 2016 after a dispute a year earlier when then Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited the country for an African Union summit. It refused to arrest him, despite the then leader facing an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes.
However, the controversial decision to withdraw was overturned when a national court ruled that such a move would have been unconstitutional.
Earlier this year, it held a controversial joint military exercise with Russia and China, which critics have cited as evidence of a leaning towards the Kremlin.