South Africa’s ANC Weighing Stance on International Criminal Court Before Putin Visit
- Govternment taking advice on handling of Putin arrest warrant
- ANC previously sought withdrawal after Bashir arrest warrant
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula
Photographer: Papi Morake/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
South Africa’s governing African National Congress will re-open an internal debate about its stance on the International Criminal Court, before an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin this year.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee began a four-day meeting on Friday where it plans to continue earlier discussions about whether or not South Africa should withdraw from the Rome Statute — the treaty that established the court. As a signatory, the government may be obliged to arrest Putin under an arrest warrant the court issued in March should he accept an invitation to attend a BRICS summit in South Africa in August.