Botswana reaffirms support for ICC, 'regrets' SA decision
26 October 2016
Gaborone - The government of Botswana has become the first African country to "regret" the decision taken by South Africa to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Botswana's ministry of foreign affairs confirmed to News24 that it had indeed released a statement that circulated on social media on Wednesday in which it "regretted" South Africa's decision to withdraw from the Hague-based court.
"While Botswana fully respects the sovereign right of any country to become a party to, or to withdraw from any international instrument, the Government of Botswana nonetheless regrets that the Government of South Africa reached this decision," read part of the statement.
South Africa dealt a heavy blow to the international court on Friday by announcing it was withdrawing from the institution set up to prosecute the world's worst crimes.