South Africa is withdrawing from the international criminal court, according to a document seen by Reuters, in a move that would take effect one year after notice is formally received by the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. A UN spokesman declined to confirm receipt of the document, which is signed by South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and dated 19 October. “The Republic of South Africa has found that its obligations with respect to the peaceful resolution of conflicts at times are incompatible with the interpretation given by the international criminal court,” according to the document. The South African mission to the UN was not immediately available to comment on the document. Burundi politicians back international criminal court withdrawal Read moreThe international criminal court (ICC), which opened in July 2002 and has 124 member states, is the first legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Source: The Guardian October 21, 2016 02:03 UTC