Raila Odinga blasts the African Union over Burundi, ICC

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has hit out at the African Union (AU) for agreeing to withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

At the just concluded Head of States meeting in Ethiopia, the leaders had their discussions centred on the withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) more than other critical issues like the crisis in Burundi.

Raila said despite the clear danger facing the people of Burundi who have been left on their own, the AU Summit concentrated its energies on how to pull Africa out of the ICC.

CORD Leader Raila Odinga (PHOTO: COURTESY)

He said with Africans crying for salvation from political inequity, reversal of democracy and State-sponsored violence, the leaders at the AU meeting missed the opportunity to salvage the war torn Burundi.

“The leaders prioritised exiting the Rome Statute even as AU rescinded its decision to deploy troops in Burundi because the incumbent, who stands accused in the eyes of his people, would not agree,” he said.

Marauding tyrants

But Raila’s sentiments was immediately dismissed by Jubilee as hypocritical.

Jubilee’s Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale dismissed Raila’s sentiments terming them as hypocritical.

Mr Duale said Raila’s opposition to the decision by Africa to withdraw from ICC was a confirmation that he had a hand in tribulations facing Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang’ at The Hague-based court.

“Raila’s unsolicited accusations that the AU resolution to withdraw from ICC will undermine justice in Africa is far from the truth,” said Duale.

He added: “His main worry is his project that he has used and hopes to continue using against his political competitors to ascend to power is collapsing.”

Raila said for AU to leave the ICC before the legal infrastructure and alternative mechanism is put up is to expose the population of Africa to marauding tyrants.

He said many of African tyrants are in control of State power.