Withdrawing from Rome Statute will entrench impunity in Africa

The biggest highlight from the recently concluded African Union (AU) Summit was certainly the decision to back the Kenya-fronted agenda to facilitate mass withdrawal from the Rome Statute that spawned the International Criminal Court (ICC). While moving the agenda, President Kenyatta characterised the court as a vehicle that had strayed off course; in the process jeopardising security, sovereignty and dignity of Africans. In supporting the move, Chadian President Idriss Deby accused the ICC of unfairly targeting Africa yet more flagrant violations of human rights happen elsewhere too.

Anybody not familiar with happenings in Africa would easily buy into the logic and justifications of the condescending attitude of African leaders towards the ICC. However, to a woman refugee in some camp in Burundi or a recovering victim of Kenya’s post-election violence, such news only aggravate an already fragile situation. One only needs to profile the most strident supporters of the idea of pulling out of the Rome Statute to see that it is a clear attempt to insulate themselves from the sting of justice. Even more contradictory is the fact that it all unfolded at a human rights themed Summit.