AU Summit to endorse mass ICC walkout by Africa

BY CAPITAL REPORTER | JANUARY 29, 2016
The cases against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang and the one against Sudan president Omar al Bashir are key among items straining ICC’s relationship with Africa/FILE
The cases against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang and the one against Sudan president Omar al Bashir are key among items straining ICC’s relationship with Africa/FILE
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia Jan 29 – The African Union (AU) summit is on Saturday expected to adopt a report that recommends, among others, collective withdrawal of African States from the Rome Statute that establishes the International Criminal Court ( ICC).

The AU Executive Council that comprises foreign affairs ministers from the continent has already adopted a report that highlights Africa’s misgivings with the court.

The cases against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang and the one against Sudan president Omar al Bashir are key among items straining ICC’s relationship with Africa.

The report that was unanimously adopted Thursday ahead of the AU Summit on Saturday said the decision by The Hague-based court to apply Rule 68 that allows use of recanted testimony in the case against Ruto and Sang was against the “basic principles of law and the rule of natural justice”.

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said the ICC had shown no regard to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) that reaffirmed the none retroactivity of the rule during its 14th session held in November last year.

“The first thing the court said was that whatever the ASP had agreed was irrelevant. What business do we have being in an institution that has no bearing on anything?” asked Amina.

The report wants the Summit to adopt the reaffirmation of the application of the controversial rule by the ASP in order to stamp Africa’s position on the matter.

Africa has expressed its reservation about the court saying it has disregarded Africa’s position on several matters.

Africa feels the ICC targets the Continent even as worse atrocities are committed elsewhere around the world.

“There are cases in Iraq, Syria and Palestine and we see none in that court,” said South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Maite Mashabane.

Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said Africa is reviewing its relationship with the court as a result of open disregard of the continent’s concerns.

“All that we see is humiliation and nothing about justice,” he said.

https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2016/01/au-summit-to-endorse-mass-icc-walkout-by-africa/

all these genociders' wan to escape abi. Omar al bashir goan face the law.

Baba body odour is good for nigeria and africa at large....

The word of marx will never go unheard. He said a time will come when the oppressed will move to a self conscious state. Fight fo your relevance. No where in the world is recognision given on a platter of gold. You either earn or fight for it... Just that whe have no alternative to ICC and we need a great monster to check our unreasonable leaders.

This iscan important step in breaking free of Western control of African politics. Remember that in all African wars, the West is always funding one or both sides.

The bid was successful as the states adopted a resolution framed thus;
[size=14pt]

“The Assembly decides that the open-ended ministerial committee’s mandate include the urgent development of comprehensive strategy including collective withdrawal from the court to inform the next action of AU member states to the Rome Statute,” the resolution read. [/size]

skademzy:
The word of marx will never go unheard. He said a time will come when the oppressed will move to a self conscious state. Fight fo your relevance. No where in the world is recognision given on a platter of gold. You either earn or fight for it... Just that whe have no alternative to ICC and we need a great monster to check our unreasonable leaders.

There is an alternative:

The African Court of Justice

Established by the African Union, read an article about it here - https://www.africaportal.org/dspace/articles/implications-au-decision-give-african-court-jurisdiction-over-international-crimes

You can download the Statute establishing it here;

http://www.au.int/en/treaties/protocol-court-justice-african-union

It was amended to give the court powers to try war crimes By this protocol:

http://www.au.int/en/treaties/protocol-amendments-protocol-statute-african-court-justice-and-human-rights

It's got powers to preside over war crimes.
Read