Withdrawal from ICC sends “wrong message” - Ban Ki Moon

Irari Ngugi

October 30, 2016 7:18 PM

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed regret over the intention of African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Deterring future atrocities, delivering justice for victims, and defending the rules of war across the globe are far too important priorities to risk a retreat from the age of accountability that we have worked so hard to build and solidify,” Moon said.

He noted the concern raised that the Court has convicted only Africans despite evidence of crimes in other parts of the world, and stressed that such challenges are best addressed not by diminishing support for the ICC, but by strengthening it from within.

Gambia last week became the third African country this month to pull out from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Gambia’s Information Minister Sheriff Bojang accused the court system of being racist and unfairly targeting Africans for prosecution.

Similar actions

The announcement comes after similar actions by the South African and Burundian governments to pull out from the court.

According to ICC, the withdrawal will only come into effect one year after the official notification.

Namibia and Kenya have also raised the possibility of leaving the ICC, which has often been accused of bias against African leaders.

Kenya’s National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, has indicated that the House Business Committee will soon meet to deliberate on repealing the International Crimes Act.

Irari Ngugi