ICC requests African countries to stay, Russia announces its withdrawal

International criminal Court made a plea to three African Countries to stay and rethink about their decision of withdrawing from the court.

United Nations confirmation that Gambia will officially exit the judicial body by November next year was announced on Monday. There is a hint that more countries would pull out after Burundi announced its withdrawal followed by South Africa.

15th session of the Assembly of States Parties taken up by ICC officials on Wednesday to try and sort out issues and find ways around arguments put forward by these countries, the major one being that the ICC targets African states in its prosecutions. But the news about Russia pulling out of the court was quite unpredictable. At the opening of the session, ICC President Sidiki Kaba said the “powerful feeling of injustice” of the African states is somewhat unguided.

The opening session flagged off with the news that Russia too pulled out from the court due to the Crimea decision. In its annual report released on November 14, the court classifies the Russian annexation of Crimea as an occupation.

“This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government”, the report reads.

Allegations on Russia for exercising overall control over armed groups in eastern Ukraine will be examined.