African Union's push for withdrawal from ICC gains momentum

The International Criminal Court (ICC0, The Hague (Image from Internet)

Nairobi (IINA) – The African Union (AU) has agreed to withdraw from The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) unless the continent's demands for the amendment of the Rome Statute are met, news agencies reported.
The AU is demanding that all the sitting heads of state and government as well as senior government officials be granted immunity from prosecution while they remain in office; recognition for primacy to African judicial mechanisms and AU decision-making organs over the ICC; and a reduction of powers of the ICC Prosecutor.
During a meeting held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Monday, the AU Open-ended Ministerial Committee on the ICC, agreed on the need for the African states parties to withdraw en masse from the Rome Statute of the ICC.
The meeting, which was chaired by Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom, was held in follow-up to decisions taken at an earlier summit of AU heads of state and government.
The meeting also unanimously resolved that the journey for reforming the ICC mode of operation is not over until African countries regain their dignity, independence and sovereignty.
AB/IINA

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