Ahead Of Putin Visit Ramaphosa Says ANC Agreed To ICC Withdrawal

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that the governing African National Congress (ANC) party has announced its support to withdraw the country from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Speaking alongside Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Pretoria, Ramaphosa stated that the decision "... is explained by the partiality of the ICC in relation to certain situations," Speaking to Russia's state-run TASS, an official from Ramaphosa's office stated that the decision will have to go to parliament for approval.

• The decision to withdraw from the ICC comes months ahead of the BRICS Summit, due to take place in Durban on 22-24 August. Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to attend, but it is unclear if he would have attended given there is currently an ICC warrant out against him due to the trafficking of Ukrainian children to Russia.
• The move is likely to garner some concern in the US and among its allies as a potential sign that South Africa is shifting more firmly into the Russia/China sphere of influence (neither country is a signatory of the Rome Statute).
• Should be noted that former President Jacob Zuma proposed a withdrawal in 2016, but following a challenge from the opposition the High Court ruled against the withdrawal.