United Nations, United States | AFP | Burundi on Thursday formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, dealing a blow to the tribunal seen as a pillar of international justice. South Africa was the first to take the formal step at the United Nations …
Read More »ICC, UN urges dialogue with African nations set to quit
UN chief hopes South Africa will reconsider ICC withdrawal Dakar, Senegal | AFP | The International Criminal Court on Monday urged member states to seek a consensus with critical African nations, while stressing that South Africa and Burundi’s announced departures would not take place for at least year. “Today more …
Read More »ICC asks South Africa, Burundi to reconsider withdrawal
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The International Criminal Court on Saturday asked South Africa and Burundi to reconsider their decisions to withdraw from the troubled institution set up to try the world’s worst crimes. “Although withdrawing from a treaty is a sovereign act, I regret these decisions and …
Read More »Burundi set to quit ICC as president promulgates law
Bujumbura, Burundi | AFP | President Pierre Nkurunziza on Tuesday signed legislation enabling Burundi to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). A copy of the law seen by AFP and dated October 18 allows “the Republic of Burundi’s withdrawal from the Rome statute”, the ICC’s founding treaty. The next …
Read More »Burundi declares UN rights investigators persona non grata
United Nations, United States | AFP | Burundi on Monday barred three United Nations rights experts who had accused the government in Bujumbura of being responsible for abuses and warned of a danger of genocide from the violence. In a letter sent by Foreign Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe and seen …
Read More »Burundi wants to quit ICC to avoid possible charges
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi announced plans Friday to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a week after the UN began an enquiry into human rights abuses committed since April 2015. “It is perfectly clear that this is a plot to do harm to Burundi,” said Gaston …
Read More »UN launches high-level probe of Burundi rights abuses
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The UN decided Friday to send a high-level team of investigators to Burundi to probe rights violations after a report warned of possible “crimes against humanity” and the risk of genocide. The UN Human Rights Council voiced “grave concern” at soaring violations seen in …
Read More »Trade war bites as Burundi bans exports to Rwanda
Unexpected outcomes from Burundi’s trade ban on Rwanda Burundi’s July decision to ban exports to its northern neighbor, Rwanda, is brewing trouble for both economies; the question is whether the embattled leadership in Bujumbura can afford to pay that price. The export restrictions on Rwanda were imposed in July by Burundian …
Read More »UN vote on Burundi police force expected Friday
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Friday on deploying a UN police force to Burundi to monitor human rights and help quell violence in the African country. France requested a vote on a draft resolution presented two weeks ago to …
Read More »South Sudan violence tops African Union summit agenda
Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | Renewed fighting in South Sudan that has claimed more than 300 lives dominated discussions at an African Union summit that opened Sunday in the Rwandan capital Kigali. A shaky ceasefire has held since late Monday following the fighting that raged for four days in Juba, …
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