By failing to arrest and surrender Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2015, South Africa failed to comply with a request by the International Criminal Court (ICC), contrary to the provisions of the Rome Statute, it was ruled on Thursday.
“The chamber concludes by not arresting Omar al-Bashir between 13 and 15 June 2015, South Africa failed to comply with the court’s request for the arrest and surrender of Omar al-Bashir, contrary to the provisions of the [Rome]Statue, thereby preventing the court from exercising its duties and functions….,” a unanimous ruling by the ICC in the Hague, Netherlands, said.
The court rejected South Africa’s arguments that according to the international customary law regarding diplomatic immunities, it could not arrest a sitting president who was in South Africa on an invitation from the African Union, saying SA had no right to make a unilateral decision not to arrest the Sudanese president.
– African News Agency (ANA)
