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Opposition party challenges South Africa’s move to quit ICC

By Editor
06 December 2016   |   3:15 am
South Africa’s main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has taken the government to court over its decision to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
ICC Headquarter

ICC Headquarter

South Africa’s main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has taken the government to court over its decision to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The High Court in Pretoria yesterday began hearing to determine the constitutionality of a government’s move to withdraw from the Hague-based ICC, an international tribunal set up to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

In June 2015, South Africa failed to arrest visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC for war crimes in the western Sudanese province of Darfur. Bashir has denied the accusations.

Al Jazeera said the opposition claimed that it was illegal for the government to withdraw South Africa from the ICC.

“Basically, the Democratic Alliance, and other parties involved in this legal action, say that the government’s attempt to withdraw from the ICC and the Rome Statute is unconstitutional,” it said.

The case also argued that the move was against South Africa’s traditional role as a defender of human rights.

“If the government was blocked from withdrawing by the country’s own courts, it would be forced to stay in the ICC,” Al Jazeera added.

A verdict was expected to be made following hearings yesterday and today.

The ICC is an international tribunal, which 124 states have joined, under the Rome Statute.

The court is perceived by African politicians and some experts as biased against Africans, since the vast majority of investigations, indictments and convictions are against African nationals.

Burundi has recently declared that it intends to withdraw from the Court.

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