AU summit urges referral of ICC cases to Kenya

May 28, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA/JUBA) – African leaders who attended the just concluded African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia strongly backed a Kenyan proposal that the International Criminal Court refer cases against their leaders back home.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are currently facing trial at the Hague-based tribunal over charges linked to the 2007 post-election violence in the country where nearly 1,000 people died.

Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the African body, Hailemariam, Desalegn, the chairperson of the AU described the ICC as a “flawed” process.

“The intention was to avoid any kind of impunity, of ill governance and the kind, but now the process has degenerated into some kind of race hunting rather than the objective of taking care of crimes and impunities,” he said.

Kenyatta, Kenya’s fourth president became the second sitting African leader to face trial at the tribunal, which has been largely accused of selective justice.

Meanwhile, African leaders attending an ordinary session of the African Union summit on Monday adopted new strategies for the continent over the next 50 years.

At a two-day closed door meeting in the Ethiopian capital, African heads of states, passed a number of decisions and proclamation, which they anticipate would transform Africa into a better place by 2063.

While speaking at the summit, the AU Chairperson said African leaders must intensify efforts to alleviate poverty and ensure peace.

“We must focus on economic transformation on the continent. This is the basis for all, even for conflict resolution and peace and stability on the continent,” he said.

“Africa is emerging and becoming next growth pole and out of the 10 fast economies in the world six are in Africa. That shows Africa is on the rise; but, we have to expedite, deepen what we have already started,” he added.

Desalegn, also Ethiopia’s prime minister, further stressed that African countries must join hands to resolve conflicts and insecurities, which he described as setbacks to the continent’s prosperity.

On relations between Sudan and South Sudan, the AU chairperson said notable progress had been achieved between Sudan and South Sudan.

He however called for commitment from the two country’s leaders to accept and implement agreements under the AU roadmap and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution.

The Ethiopian premier also appealed to African leaders and the international community at large to extend continued support to Sudan and South Sudan so that both countries can achieve the objective of creating two viable states living side by side with each other.

(ST)