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Congo Brazzaville: Congolese parties petition government to withdraw from the ICC

2016/11/06

Two parties within the Republic of Congo’s ruling coalition have petitioned the government to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a fresh blow to the Hague-based court.

Some African states have shown discontent at the court, saying the continent is unfairly targeted.

Burundi and South Africa became the initial nations to officially notify the United Nations of their intentions to pull out of the Rome Statute, the 1998 treaty that established the ICC

Gambia as well last month said it would withdraw from the court, accusing the court of ignoring the “war crimes” of Western nations and seeking only to prosecute Africans.

The two Congolese parties delivered a memorandum to Justice Minister Pierre Mabiala, who said he would study the proposition before making a approbation to the government.

The ICC opened in July 2002 and has 124 member states. It is the initial legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

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