{{Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are behind concerted efforts to lobby African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court at the African union summit in Addis Ababa, a Sudanese diplomat revealed.}}
The AU is holding an extraordinary summit Friday to discuss the continent’s future relationship with the Hague-based court amid calls from rights groups to reconsider the move.
“The majority of the African leaders are insisting to vote for the withdrawal from the so-called ICC,” Sudanese ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr Abdul-Rahman Siralkhatim, said on Thursday.
“This summit will be a historic one for African leaders to put an end to this western hostile tool against Africa,” the Ambassador said.
“The meeting will discuss issues of the appointment of a new chairman of the African Peace and Security Council and Africa’s relation with the International Criminal Court and its accusations against African leaders” he added.
ICC faces accusations from African leaders of targeting only Africans.
The court currently has two high profile cases against Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir and Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, including his deputy William Ruto.
It is expected that the 34 African countries that are party to the Rome Statute will meet Friday to discuss possible withdrawal from the ICC.
The AU has previously called on its members not to cooperate with the ICC, and has asked the UN Security Council to suspend the Kenyan and Sudanese cases.
The AU has also asked the court to allow Libya to try its own citizens within its territory.
NMG
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