Ghanaians' ICC petition over migrant attacks 'opportunistic', says South Africa

What the report says

BBC News reports that South Africa has rejected as “opportunistic” a petition lodged at the International Criminal Court by two Ghanaian nationals seeking scrutiny of violence against foreign migrants. The filing, submitted in The Hague last week, argues that attacks on migrants in South Africa may amount to crimes against humanity and says state authorities have not done enough to stop or punish the violence.

The petition was brought by Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Ghanaian government spokesperson on governance and security, and Emmanuel Kotin, a counter-terrorism and security analyst. South Africa’s foreign ministry said the petition does not meet the ICC’s legal threshold and maintained that the country’s courts are capable of addressing unlawful acts. The ICC has not publicly said whether it will take up the matter.

The dispute comes amid heightened anti-migrant protests in South Africa, where some groups have demanded stricter border controls and removals of undocumented migrants. BBC reports that Ghana and other countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda, have helped citizens leave South Africa in recent weeks. South Africa says more than 53,000 foreign nationals have recently been deported or voluntarily repatriated, while an AFP tally using figures from migrants’ home governments suggests more than 160,000 have departed over two months.

The issue has also raised diplomatic pressure. Ghana says one of its citizens was killed in related violence, which South African authorities deny. Ecowas leaders have condemned reported attacks on African migrants, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has denounced vigilantism and attacks on foreigners. The UN has cautioned against blaming migrants for South Africa’s economic and social problems.