South Africa Formally Revokes its International Criminal Court Withdrawal

"South Africa formally revoked its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court on Tuesday after its High Court blocked the government's bid to pull out of the Hague-based war crimes tribunal.

South Africa notified U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres that because of the High Court decision, "the Instrument of Withdrawal was found to be unconstitutional and invalid," according to a document posted on the U.N. treaties website.

In order to adhere to last month's court judgment-which ruled South Africa's Parliament needed to approve the country's withdrawal from the ICC-the planned pull-out would be revoked 'with immediate effect,' according to the March 7 U.N. document...

Three African states-South Africa, Gambia and Burundi-last year signaled their intention to quit the ICC. Gambia's President Adama Barrow, elected in December, said earlier this month that the tiny West African nation would remain in the ICC."