Politics

South Africa’s ruling party, ANC wants country to quit ICC. Here’s why

Published

2 years ago

April 25, 2023

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has revealed that the ruling party, African National Congress (ANC) wants the country to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Ramaphosa said at a press conference following a visit by Finnish President, Sauli Niinistö over the weekend, that “The ruling party has decided that it is prudent for South Africa to withdraw from the ICC.”

Whether South Africa will stop Putin is “under consideration,” the head of state added.

“Putin can come to this country at any time,” ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula said earlier at a press conference. “The ICC does not serve the interests of all, but those of a few,” he added.

“We would like to see this issue of unfair treatment properly discussed, but in the meantime, the ruling party has decided once again that we should withdraw,” Ramaphosa said.

President Ramaphosa said he was aware of the legal development ahead of Putin’s visit to the BRICS summit later this year after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on March 17 against the Russian President for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

As a member of the ICC, the country is theoretically supposed to arrest the Russian president if he entered its territory.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, South Africa, a major diplomatic force in Africa, has refrained from denouncing Moscow, claiming to have taken a neutral stance in order to “play a role in the resolution of conflicts,” as explained once more by President Ramaphosa, who also indicated that he had held several meetings with Mr. Putin.

Related Topics:Featured President Cyril Ramaphosa South Africa

Click to comment

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.