SA's position in Africa regarding the ICC is exaggerated – ISS



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The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) stated that there was probably no major change in the way the South African government was seen on the continent after it emerged on Wednesday that he wanted to reassess his position on his draft International Criminal Court (ICC) release.

According to a News24 report, International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu suggested that the government might reconsider the controversial decision.

Sisulu did not mention former president Jacob Zuma, but told reporters that the decision was taken previous administration "could be reviewed.

She said that he was back to the Cabinet agenda with the idea that South Africa could do more to change the skewed prejudice against Africa in the ICC if it remained part of the Statute of Rome

In 2015 struck a major blow to the ICC by announcing that it would withdraw from the court.

The announcement follows a dispute over its failure to arrest the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir during his visit to the country despite an arrest by the ICC

Each country chooses

The ICC, created in 2002, is often accused of bias against Africa and also struggled with a lack of cooperation, including from the United States, which signed the it has never ratified it.

In an interview with News24, Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, head of special projects at the ISS, said that South Africa's influence on the rest of the continent was often overstated. 19659002] "South Africa's positioning on the continent as a" leader "on international justice issues may be a bit exaggerated, even after the withdrawal notice of other countries have indicated their intention, there has been no concrete follow-up.

"In the end, each country chooses to stay or withdraw individually, and exercises a sovereign right by doing so, it is unlikely that this change of position will have a wider effect on other countries, "said Maunganidze.

Reports indicated that two African states, South Africa and Burundi, had formally taken over decision to leave the ICC in 2016.

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza signed a law allowing the country of East Africa to withdraw from the ICC.

African leaders are criticized

Burund's decision i to leave the court of The Hague follows a fierce dispute with the international community on the human rights situation in the country

. Violent killing after Nkurunziza's controversial decision to pursue a third term in 2015.

Although Burundi officially left the court, South Africa was blocked by a court decision stating that she had to first bring the case to the Chamber.

A number of African countries have also threatened in recent years to withdraw from the ICC, Namibia also passing a referendum to withdraw from the court.

The former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, whose country has not signed the Rome Statute, has been quoted in the past criticizing the ICC for its lawsuits against African leaders.

Mugabe reportedly stated that it was high time for Africa to establish a criminal court that would seek justice for war crimes and "serious" crimes. Ramaphosa is not going to "shake the boat"

However, some countries, including Malawi, have blasted the veteran leader, saying that "the AU (African Union) has adopted a strategy of Commitment to the ICC – not a call for a massive withdrawal, as several African countries have rejected a call for massive withdrawal that will ompromise sovereignty [if it did]"said Maunganidze.

She added that the government President Cyril Ramaphosa was probably not going to tip the boat as it led to consensus.

She said that the amendment proposed by her government would probably not come until the country's elections in 2019. [19659002"Thisisaproblemforthegovernmentandthepartyatthepoweroftheadministration"Ramaphossaidthathewasinfavorofaconsensusthatwouldnotbeabletopresentthisdecisionnow"saidtheUnitedArabEmirates

News24 had previously reported that the ANC that the Cabinet should first consult the party before reconsidering its decision to withdraw from the ICC.

ANC Election Chief Fikile Mbalula reportedly said the decision to withdraw was a decision of the ANC. It was confirmed later at the December Elective Conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg.

"We are not managing the government's micromanagement, but we must understand that the government can express itself at some point in time. [However] ministers have a responsibility to ensure that their position resonates with the government." ANC and is guided and mandated by the ANC, as the ruling party that won the elections, "said Mbalula.

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