Leaders in Pretoria have launched the process of the official withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. They accuse Hague-based institution of concentrating too much on the African authorities. Furthermore, they deny accepting a court’s practice to judge sitting leaders despite their diplomatic immunity. Last year, South African leaders refused to detain Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who is accused of genocides and war crimes. He was a participant at the African Union summit in Johannesburg. Bashir has denied the allegations. 

The arrest warrant seems to be useless so far. South Africa has presented its decision to the UN. Reuters reporters found the document signed on 19th October by Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa's minister of international relations and cooperation. It says that « its obligations with respect to the peaceful resolution of conflicts at times are incompatible with the interpretation given by the International Criminal Court".

It isn’t the first time when the ICC is considered an anti-African institution. When the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta charged with crimes against humanity the ICC has been facing huge problems in executing their decision. The African Union supports the claim that heads of state should be entitled to immunity for the duration of their term in office, thus they do not cooperate with the court in preparing an effective trial of Kenyata. The first try collapsed due to a lack of evidence.
The withdrawal will take an effect in a year.

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