Libyan official says 37 African countries to withdraw from ICC
March 2, 2009 (KHARTOUM) —African nations plan to withdraw their membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) to protest a possible arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, a senior Libya official today.
However the Libyan official provided no further details. Currently there are only 30 African countries that are members of the ICC.
Last month the head of the State Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, Liechtenstein’s Christian Wenaweser said he is not aware if any move by African countries to revoke their membership at the ICC.
African nations comprise the majority of ICC members but some of its leaders have expressed concern that the court is only prosecuting African figures.
“We think there is a problem with ICC targeting only Africans, as if Africa has been a place to experiment with their ideas” AU chairman Jean Ping said in press statements last month.
“A judge should be impartial” he said. “The law should apply to everyone and not only the weak”.
The ICC is currently handling 4 cases consisting of Uganda, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Darfur.
Al-Tereyki who is also the African Union (AU) envoy for Sudan met with Al-Bashir today and reiterated the regional’s body rejection of the ICC move, according to Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA).
SUNA quoted the Libyan official as saying that his country in its capacity as AU president will put all its resources to resolve the ICC row within Africa “without giving any chance for foreign interference”.
Last month the Libyan leader Mu’ammar Qadhafi said that Israel and not Bashir should be held accountable for Darfur crimes.
“Key [Darfur] rebel leaders have opened offices in Tel Aviv and meet frequently with the [Israeli] army….If Tel Aviv among others is behind the events in Darfur, why then call Bashir or the Sudanese government to account” he said.
In February a joint Arab League-African Union (AU) delegation in New York met with UN Security Council (UNSC) members to lobby for Article 16 resolution which allows the UNSC to suspend the ICC prosecutions in any case for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.
However the supporters of Article 16 do not have the required nine votes to push through this resolution.
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Nile
Libyan official says 37 African countries to withdraw from ICC
I knew Fake African nations will withdraw their membership, but those who really meant it like Museveni of Uganda will fight to the last. Bashir must pay for his brutalities. for sure, some cruel Afrian leaders will withdraw their membership in hope that Arab-wannabe African Gadaffi will give them some money. what a bunch of losers! Africa is too big to be sold out. I am sick and tired of African leaders who cannot stick togather for Africa national interest nor for the interest its citizens.
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Libyan official says 37 African countries to withdraw from ICC
Abdul Salam Al-Tereyki you better find your way back to school, your a lier for giving wrong information about African countries, just see, how you have mention more than the actual figure. Criminals are been watched always and this is why ICC is keeping its eyes on African nations. ICC is about justices turning of injsutices into peace. Don’t just talk rubbish about the arrest of bashir, how many lives where lost in African by some of those notorous who are tergeted by ICC to face their charges. We in African when someone is on the top he/her believes that the World is in their own hands and they can do whatever they want, absolutely it is true because this had happened in countries lik Sudan, Uganda, CAR and DRC. We should not condemn one person with millions of lives, what is the important of bashir (sadist) if he had already shown his generation compared the lives which were shorten in Durfur and South. Please shut your mouth and mind about your own affairs in your country. OCampo is the only who knows how to bring peace into Sudan not Libya.
Santino Nuan
Libyan official says 37 African countries to withdraw from ICC
Curse be on Libya leaders for they want to influence the weak leaders of African countries to withdraw their memberships from ICC institution if ICC issued arrest warrant fo Bashir. Libya,what do you want Ocampo to do to Omer Al Bahir? Do you want Ocampo to just laugh with criminals just as you African leaders do in your AU institution where criminals are allowed to chair meetings. What nonsense and baselessly argument it is, to say that ICC is targeting only African leaders. Yes it might be true and also false because ICC did not indict democratic leaders. Ugandan President Museveni who is fighting with LRA has not bec accused of war crimes because Museveni did not compaign to wipe out Acholi tribe of northern Uganda to which Joseph Kony belongs. Museven fights Joseph Kony’s fighters only in battle field but not civils from Acholi tribes. ICC did not indict former President of Nigeria, Absangu because Abasangu did not compaign to wipe out tribes of Delta region to which rebel hailed from. He only fought rebels and not carrying out ethnic cleansing as Omer Al bashir did to fur, Masalit and Zaggawa tribes in Darfur region. If ICC is bias or wrong in judging why not taking Omer Al bashir and judge by yourself. Libya should not fool African leaders during its AU’s chairmanship. Libya preseident is an autocratic leader and there is not element of truth in him.
Joseph
Libyan official says 37 African countries to withdraw from ICC
If they withdraw from ICC, they shall resume after indictment. Example in Iraq they stand with Sadam but during fighting and they hide and quite.
See how they Lie of 37 countries to withdrow while there is 30 countries.