African Union condemns ‘unfair’ ICC

The International Criminal Court is treating Africa unfairly, a senior African Union official has said, at the start of a special AU meeting to discuss a possible pull-out. The court is targeting Africa and Africans, said Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The two-day summit comes as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is due to face trial at The Hague next month.

He denies charges of organising violence after the 2007 elections.

On Thursday, Mr Kenyatta again asked for the charges to be dismissed.

He, along with some other African leaders, argue that a serving president should not be made to face trial.

The ICC has rejected a previous request that he be allowed to give evidence by video link.

His deputy, William Ruto, faces similar charges, which he also denies.

His trial was postponed for a week last month to allow him to return home to help deal with the terror attack on the Westgate shopping centre.

Mr Tedros, who is the current chairman of the AU’s Executive Council, said the ICC was “condescending” towards the continent.

“Far from promoting justice and reconciliation… the court has transformed itself into a political instrument targeting Africa and Africans. This unfair and unjust treatment is totally unacceptable,” he said.

Kenya’s foreign minister has denied initial reports that it is lobbying for the African Union to call for all member states to withdraw from the ICC.

Analysts say several East African nations favour such a move, while this is opposed in West Africa.

Botswana has also publicly supported the court, while South Africa’s governing African National Congress has voiced criticism.

BBC News