ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia October 11, 2013 (AP)
African leaders should not allow the International Criminal Court to
continue treating Africans "in a condescending manner," an African Union
official said Friday during the start of a meeting to discuss the
continent's relationship with the court.
Far from promoting justice and peace, the ICC has become a political
tool used to target Africans, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the
chairman of the Executive Council of the African Union and Ethiopia's
foreign minister.
The ICC has also come under strong criticism from other African leaders.
The international court has indicted only Africans so far.
Foreign ministers met Friday at AU headquarters in Ethiopia to
deliberate the continent's relationship with The Hague,
Netherlands-based court. African heads of state and government meet on
the issue Saturday.
"This unfair and unjust treatment is totally unacceptable and that's why
we have been expressing serious concerns against the ICC," Tedros said.
Tedros said the AU's concerns about the fair treatment of Africa have
been ignored. The request to the United Nations Security Council to
defer the ICC proceedings against Sudan President Omar al-Bashir — who
is wanted by the ICC for war crimes — has neither been heard or acted
upon, Tedros said
The ICC also rejected the AU's request for postponement of the ICC
investigation and prosecution of Kenyan leaders suspected of instigating
the postelection violence.
President Uhuru Kenyatta faces crimes against humanity charges for
Kenya's 2007-08 postelection violence in which more than 1,000 people
died. His trial starts next month.
Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto and broadcaster Joshua Sang also
have been charged with crimes against humanity. Their trials, which
began last month, continued Friday.
Kenya's parliament last month voted to withdraw from the ICC. Kenya requested the convening of the special summit, Tedros said.
In the build-up to the summit political insiders in Kenya's government
have said that African countries may decide to sever ties with the ICC
in solidarity with Kenya. Uganda's Deputy Foreign Minister Okello Oryem
said recently that Uganda would be compelled to quit the Rome Statute
that created the ICC court if a "summit-level" recommendation is made.
Kenya Foreign Minister Amina Mohammed denied that Africa is trying cut
ties with the ICC and said that the continent, whose countries make most
of members of the ICC, wants its concerns heard.
Any withdrawal from the ICC would send the wrong signal about Africa's
commitment to protect and promote human rights and to reject impunity,
130 human rights groups said in a statement this week.
"Considerations of withdrawal risk grave consequences for civilians in
Africa, who tend to bear the brunt of serious crimes committed in
violation of international law," the groups said.
Kenyatta has pledged to cooperate with the court. But privately several
members of his government have told The Associated Press they do not
believe Kenyatta will report to The Hague.
If Kenyatta decides not to attend his trial, Kenya could become
politically isolated and be sanctioned. But in the wake of the Sept. 21
mall attack in Kenya by Somali terrorists, international repercussions
may be lighter because of Kenya's importance to the West as a
counterterrorism partner.