Arresting Putin In South Africa Will Be Declaration Of War Against Russia, Says Ramaphosa

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that arresting Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin – if he chooses to attend a summit in Johannesburg next month – would be a declaration of war against Russia.

Cyril Ramaphosa made the warning with weeks to go before an international meeting happens in Johannesburg, to which the Russian president is invited.

Mr Putin has been invited to South Africa in August, when the country hosts a summit for members of the BRICS countries – an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

But if Mr Putin leaves Russian soil, he will be subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

South Africa is an ICC signatory and should therefore help in his arrest.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has gone to court to try to force the authorities in South Africa – an ICC member – to carry out the arrest.

South Africa’s diplomatic dilemma is playing out in court, where the leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is trying to force the government’s hand and ensure the Kremlin leader is held and handed over to the ICC if he steps foot in the country.

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In his response, Ramaphosa described the DA’s application as “irresponsible” and said national security was at stake.

According to the president, South Africa is seeking an exemption under ICC rules based on the fact that enacting the arrest could threaten the “security, peace and order of the state”.

“It would be inconsistent with our constitution to risk engaging in war with Russia,” he said, adding that this would go against his duty to protect the country.

The arrest would also undermine a South African-led mission to end the war in Ukraine and “foreclose any peaceful solution”, Ramaphosa wrote.

The ICC treaty states that a member country should consult the court when it identifies problems that may impede the execution of a request, and that the court may not proceed with requesting an arrest if this would require a state to break international rules on diplomatic immunity.