AFRICA ( Commonwealth Union) _ South Africa is grappling with a decision on how to proceed if Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts an earlier invitation to attend an August summit in the country, despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC warrant, issued on March 17, is related to war crimes involving the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. As a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute, South Africa is obligated to execute international arrest warrants issued by the court. However, South Africa has maintained a close relationship with Russia, refraining from criticizing its invasion of Ukraine and engaging in bilateral talks with Russian officials.
Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister for international relations, stated that the government is awaiting a refreshed legal opinion on the matter and will consider its options once it is received. The decision poses a difficult situation for the government, and it will be discussed by the Cabinet, with actions guided by the overall views of the government. However, Pandor did not comment on the possibility of withdrawing Putin’s invitation to the BRICS summit, which South Africa is set to host in August.
Criticism has been leveled at the ICC for its perceived uneven approach to leaders responsible for international law abuses, leading to calls for South Africa to stick by its ICC commitments. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, believes that the invitation to President Putin should be withdrawn and that the government should be prepared to execute the arrest warrant if necessary.
Experts suggest that the South African government could explore various options, including making the BRICS summit virtual, withdrawing from the ICC entirely, or seeking diplomatic immunity for Putin as a sitting head of state. Similar dilemmas have arisen in the past, such as when Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited South Africa in 2015 and the country was ordered to arrest him, but he ultimately escaped.
The Cabinet is expected to discuss the matter and make a decision in the coming week.
