South Africa on Tuesday formally revoked its withdrawal from the ICC after its High Court blocked the government's bid to pull out of the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. South Africa notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that because of the High Court decision, "the Instrument of Withdrawal was found to be unconstitutional and invalid," according to a document posted on the UN treaties website. Read: South Africa's decision to leave ICC ruled 'invalid'Also read: South African court blocks state's ICC withdrawal bidSouth African Justice Minister Michael Masutha said last month that the court ruling amounted to a delay that would not stop the government's bid to leave the ICC, which some African governments feel unfairly targets Africans and which Pretoria said was at odds with its diplomatic immunity laws. Three African states - South Africa, Gambia and Burundi - last year signaled their intention to quit the ICC. Gambia's President Adama Barrow, elected in December, said earlier this month that the tiny West African nation would remain in the ICC.

Source: The Star March 08, 2017 09:01 UTC