war crimes

SA Urged to Arrest Bashir

Tuesday 26 May, 2015 - 11:41

The Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) says it has written an open letter to the South African ministers of Justice and of International Relations and Co-operation, asking that South Africa abide by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court 27 of 2002 (the ICC Act).

SALC executive director, Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, states that South Africa's own law and its membership of the ICC obliges it to apprehend Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan Al Bashir, if he attends the African Union summit next month.

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South Africa to Withdraw ICC Membership

Monday 19 October, 2015 - 10:19

The African National Congress (ANC) has announced that South Africa is withdrawing its membership from the International Criminal Court.

ANC National Executive Committee member, Obed Bapela, made the announcement on the final day of the National General Council in Johannesburg.

The announcement follows the party’s comment that ‘the court serves no purpose’.

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SALC Granted Order to Prevent al-Bashir's Departure

Wednesday 17 June, 2015 - 12:20

Pretoria High Court Judge Hans Fabricius has granted the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) a temporary order to prevent Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, from leaving South Africa until the urgent application to have him arrested has been heard.

The application has been brought by the SALC on behalf of a group of human rights organisations and there are about nine respondents including the Home Affairs Department.

Meanwhile, South Sudanese human rights activist, Hussein Karshoum, says there is a basis for South Africa not arresting al-Bashir.

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Call for African Leaders to Quit ICC

Wednesday 17 June, 2015 - 12:14

Amid the debacle over South Africa’s refusal to arrest Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, the chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on international relations, Siphosezwe Masango, suggested that all African nations should consider withdrawing from the International Criminal Court.

Masango issued a statement criticising the court application by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), a rule of law advocacy group, for an order instructing South African authorities to arrest Bashir while he was in South Africa to attend the African Union summit.

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AU Members Tackle Conflicts on Africa

Monday 27 May, 2013 - 12:47

The African Union (AU) met to tackle ongoing conflicts on the continent, a day after the pan-African bloc held a lavish party to celebrate 50 years of existence.

Leaders also discussed a proposal to urge the International Criminal Court to back off on its bid to put Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, on trial for crimes against humanity related to the bloody 2007 election.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has urged leaders to throw out the proposal, labelling it a ‘worrying attempt by the Kenyan authorities to avoid justice’.