Better News for the International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had a better week this past week.  Following the announcements this past fall by a few African States that they intend to withdraw from the Court, more recently, Gambia's newly elected government announced that it would not leave the Court after all. Then today, South Africa's High Court ruled that the South African government's decision to withdraw from the ICC was unconstitutional because the government had failed to seek approval from the South African Parliament. This decision does not mean that South Africa cannot leave the ICC eventually, only that it will take more time and the withdrawal must follow a different procedure. It also may give the ICC more time to show that the charges against it of bias are not well founded.

(cgb)