The Chadian government said on Monday that it had notified the United Nations Secretary-General of its intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, following what it described as an in-depth review of the court's performance.
In a statement, the government argued that the ICC has concentrated its efforts on Africa, noting that nine of the court's 13 investigations have involved African states, while only four have focused on other regions.
It also pointed out that six of the seven people currently in ICC custody are being prosecuted in cases linked to Africa, saying the figures demonstrate an 'undeniable and egregious selectivity' in the court's work.
The government insisted that its decision should not be interpreted as abandoning justice for victims, but rather as a vote of confidence in national and African judicial institutions.
'This irrevocable decision by Chad in no way constitutes a renunciation of the moral imperative to provide justice to victims; rather, it reflects the conviction that national judicial systems and African judicial mechanisms are fully capable of carrying out this mission with dignity,' the statement said.
Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul also urged other African countries to reconsider their membership of the ICC.
'What is happening at the ICC should give pause for thought to all African countries that are still members,' he said in a video posted on Facebook. 'We must no longer accept being the willing victims of a two-tier system.'
Chad's move comes after the United States intensified its campaign against the ICC earlier this month, threatening additional sanctions and accusing the court of posing 'an intolerable threat to US sovereignty.'
Last week, Chad's Foreign Ministry said US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia Jr. had encouraged the country to review its commitment to the Rome Statute during talks with Chadian officials. However, Fadoul later said the decision to seek withdrawal was not made at Washington's request.
If the withdrawal takes effect, Chad would join Venezuela and the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have also begun the process of leaving the Hague-based court. Burundi and the Philippines have already withdrawn from the ICC.
The ICC, which has 125 member states, was established to prosecute individuals accused of the world's gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, when national courts are unwilling or unable to do so. However, the court has long faced criticism over its limited enforcement powers and the fact that several major powers, including China, Israel, Russia and the United States, do not recognize its jurisdiction.
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs welcomed Chad's announcement, describing the move as part of 'the growing number of nations reclaiming their sovereignty from this flawed institution.'
The bureau said the United States would continue its 'whole-of-government campaign' against what it called the ICC's 'illegitimate overreach,' reiterating Secretary of State Marco Rubio's position that the United States would never surrender its sovereignty to 'an unaccountable global tribunal.'
The statement also called on all remaining ICC member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.
Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/chad-seeks-to-exit-icc-citing-bias-against-africa/
