Johannesburg: South Africa plans to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), a deputy minister said on Sunday, as the government faces criticism for ignoring a court order to arrest Sudan's president earlier this year.
The ICC has "lost its direction" and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wants to withdraw South Africa after following certain processes, Obed Bapela, deputy minister in the Presidency, told reporters after a ruling party policy meeting.
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accused of genocide and war crimes, visited the country in June, but was allowed to leave despite a court order to detain him. The government last week asked the ICC for more time to explain why it allowed this.
But the ruling party this weekend resolved to leave the ICC, with Bapela saying powerful nations "trample" human rights and pursue "selfish interests".
"South Africa still holds the flag of human rights, we are not lowering it," he said, adding parliament would now debate ICC membership.
The ANC commands a comfortable majority in the legislature of Africa's most advanced economy, with more than 60 percent of the vote.
The ICC has "lost its direction" and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wants to withdraw South Africa after following certain processes, Obed Bapela, deputy minister in the Presidency, told reporters after a ruling party policy meeting.
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accused of genocide and war crimes, visited the country in June, but was allowed to leave despite a court order to detain him. The government last week asked the ICC for more time to explain why it allowed this.
"South Africa still holds the flag of human rights, we are not lowering it," he said, adding parliament would now debate ICC membership.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2015
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US House Passes Bill To Sanction International Criminal Court Over Israel Trump Adviser Urges Sanctions On UN Court Officials Over Netanyahu Warrant Amal Clooney Helped World Court Weigh Gaza War Crimes Evidence Indian Airports, Borders On Alert As Global Mpox Cases Rise: 10 Points "My Intention Was To...": Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post UK Tech Tycoon Missing After Superyacht Sinks Off Sicily In Italy Watch: Rahul Gandhi Takes An Uber To Share Plight Of Gig Workers 4 Killed, 24 Injured After Truck Rams Stationary Lorry In Noida: Cops 7-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing In Delhi, Body Found In Open Drain Hours Later Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.