Leader of South African opposition minority party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has stated that Russian President, Vladimir Putin is welcome to visit Pretoria despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.
The ICC, which South Africa is a signatory to, has accused Vladimir Putin of war crimes, which include the kidnapping of Ukrainian children in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Putin is scheduled to travel to South Africa for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in August, 2023.
As a signatory to the Rome Statute, South Africa is legally bound to detain Putin if he steps foot there and bring him to trial.
EFF leader, Julius Malema stated that no one was going to arrest Putin while in South Africa, a country where Russia “played a huge role to support the struggle for freedom”.
Malema stressed that the South African government should not give in to pressure from the ICC, which he accused of “hypocrisy”.
“Putin is welcomed here. No one is going to arrest Putin. If need be, we will go and fetch Putin from the airport to his meetings. He will address, finish all his meetings, and we will take him back to the airport.”
Julius Malema
“We know our friends. We know the people who liberated us. We know the people who supported us,” he added.
South Africa has close diplomatic relations with Moscow in spite of Western condemnations. Last month, its navy held joint exercises with Russian forces off the coast of South Africa. It has also abstained during UN votes condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In 2015, the South African government was criticised for letting then Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir leave the country despite an ICC arrest warrant.
A court had ordered him to stay in South Africa while it ruled whether he could be arrested. Omar al-Bashir had gone to South Africa for an African Union summit and the government argued that he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. President Omar al-Bashir left the summit early, before the court could rule on this issue.
South Africa To Consult Russia On Arrest Warrant
South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor has said the government will have to discuss the arrest warrant against Russian President, Vladimir Putin before considering any action.
Pandor disclosed that the South African authorities will first consult with the Russian side regarding the warrant.
“South Africa will have to look at existing provisions of our legislation. We also will have to have a discussion as cabinet, as well as with our colleagues in Russia, and really determine the way forward.”
Naledi Pandor
South Africa has not condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday, March 20, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that he gives a “priority” to relations with African countries as he looks for international partners in the face of Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.
“I want to emphasize that our country has always given and will continue to give priority to co-operation with African states,” Putin disclosed at a conference on Russian-African relations in Moscow.
At the conference attended by more than 40 delegations from African countries, Putin assured that Russia will share its technologies with African nations and continue helping them produce electricity.
Putin is scheduled to host African leaders in June for the Russia-Africa summit; the second of its kind.
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