Chad Notifies UN of ICC Exit, Citing 9 of 13 Cases Targeting Africa
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jul 27
Chad Notifies UN of ICC Exit, Citing 9 of 13 Cases Targeting Africa
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jul 27
Summary
Chad said it has formally notified the UN secretary-general of its intention to quit the Rome Statute, making it the fourth francophone African state to take that step in less than a year.
The Foreign Ministry said an internal review found the ICC's effectiveness "limited and uneven," pointing to 9 of 13 investigations involving African states and only 1 of 7 detainees coming from outside Africa.
N'Djamena urged other African Union members to follow, arguing national and African judicial mechanisms can deliver justice without relying on the Hague-based court.
The move follows Chad's disclosure last week that the United States had urged it to reconsider ICC membership, and comes as the court faces turmoil after a vote to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
For President Mahamat Idriss Deby, whose family has ruled for more than 35 years and whose government has crushed protests and jailed opponents, leaving the ICC also reduces exposure to an external war-crimes forum.