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South Africa to review membership of world court after Bashir row South Africa to review membership of world court after Bashir row
(35 minutes later)
South Africa will review its membership of the international criminal court (ICC), a cabinet minister has said, in the wake of a dispute over Pretoria’s failure to arrest the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir. South Africa will review its membership of the international criminal court, a cabinet minister has said, after a dispute over Pretoria’s failure to arrest the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir.
The row erupted on 15 June when Bashir flew out of South Africa as world powers and activists urged the government to arrest him under an ICC warrant on charges of masterminding genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region. The row erupted on 15 June when Bashir left South Africa as world powers and activists urged the government to arrest him under an ICC warrant on charges of masterminding genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region.
“Cabinet decided that it will review South Africa’s participation in the Rome statutes of the international [criminal] court,” Jeff Radebe, the minister in the presidency, told reporters in a post-cabinet meeting briefing. Jeff Radebe, the minister in the presidency, told reporters in a post-cabinet meeting briefing: “Cabinet decided that it will review South Africa’s participation in the Rome statutes of the international [criminal] court.”
He said the government would only leave as a last resort. “Such a decision will only be taken when South Africa has exhausted all the remedies available to it,” he said. He said the government would leave only as a last resort. “Such a decision will only be taken when South Africa has exhausted all the remedies available to it,” he added.
Minister Radebe says Cabinet decided it will review SA's particpation in the Rome Statute for a number of reasons #PostCabinetMinister Radebe says Cabinet decided it will review SA's particpation in the Rome Statute for a number of reasons #PostCabinet
Bashir, who was in South Africa for a summit of the African Union, was allowed to take off even though a Pretoria court had issued an order banning him from leaving until the end of a hearing on his case. Bashir, who was in South Africa for a summit of the African Union, was allowed to fly out of the country even though a Pretoria court had issued an order banning him from leaving until the end of a hearing on his case.
Related: 'By letting Omar ​al-​Bashir escape, ​South Africa​ had sided with tyrants'Related: 'By letting Omar ​al-​Bashir escape, ​South Africa​ had sided with tyrants'
As the row has simmered, some South African officials have said the country should cut ties with the ICC over its alleged bias against Africa. As the row has simmered, some South African officials have said the country should cut ties with the ICC over its alleged bias against Africa. Gwede Mantashe, secretary general of the ruling African National Congress, said on Monday that the ICC was “dangerous” and that South Africa should withdraw from it.
Gwede Mantashe, secretary general of the ruling African National Congress, said on Monday that the ICC was “dangerous” and that South Africa should withdraw from it. On Wednesday a South African judge asked prosecutors to consider charging government officials over the decision to allow Bashir to leave. South Africa’s government was due to issue an affidavit in court on Thursday explaining why it allowed Bashir to leave, but its contents were not expected to be made public immediately.
On Wednesday a South African judge asked prosecutors to consider charging government officials over the decision to allow Bashir to leave.
South Africa’s government was due to issue an affidavit in court on Thursday explaining why it allowed Bashir to leave, but its contents were not expected to be made public immediately.