Activists fear repression as ICC officials say investigations into possible historic crimes against humanity will continueBurundi on Friday became the first nation ever to leave the international criminal court, set up 15 years ago to prosecute those behind the world’s worst atrocities. “The decision to withdraw Burundi from the Rome Statute comes at a time when the machine continues to kill with impunity in Burundi,” said Lambert Nigarura, the president of the Burundi Coalition for the ICC. However, ICC officials said a preliminary investigation launched by the prosecutor in April 2016 into possible crimes against humanity in the central African nation would continue. The ICC now has 123 member states who have ratified the 1998 Rome Statute, the guidelines which underpin the work of the tribunal. Zambia meanwhile has held public consultations, with an overwhelming 93% of those who participated opting to stay within the court.

Source: The Guardian October 28, 2017 00:33 UTC