The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Sidiki Kaba, has expressed regret over the withdrawal of Burundi and South Africa from the Rome Statute, saying the court remains determined to impartially fight against impunity
On October 21, the Government of South Africa deposited its instrument of withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, with the Secretary General of the United Nations.
The decision came in the wake of the withdrawal process recently initiated by Burundi.
“Although withdrawing from a treaty is a sovereign act, I regret these decisions and invite South Africa and Burundi to reconsider their positions,” said Sidiki.
“I urge them to work together with other States in the fight against impunity, which often causes massive violations of human rights,” he added.
African leaders accuse ICC of allowing to be used as tool for western imperial interests in Africa.
The court is further blamed for targeting African leaders yet crimes are committed elsewhere too.
But supporters of ICC say African leaders take the lead in abuse of human rights hence the need for an independent Court to hold them accountable.
Museveni has since publicly labeled ICC as “useless”.
Sidiki said he was concerned that the withdrawal of South Africa and Burundi were a “disturbing signal” which “would open the way to other African States withdrawing from the Rome Statute, thus weakening the only permanent international criminal court in charge of prosecuting the most serious crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression.”
For Sidiki, the international community must remain united to face the enormous challenge of preventing the commission of such crimes, prosecuting the alleged perpetrators, whoever they are and wherever they are, to ensure peace, stability and security of our States.
Mr. Sidiki Kaba reiterated that the International Criminal Court needs the “strong support of the international community and the cooperation of States to ensure its effectiveness and strengthen its credibility.”
He appealed to all States parties to remain active members and other States to ratify the Rome Statute in order to “ensure the right to universal justice to all victims of mass crimes.”