Press Release Nº190/2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 13 August 2015: The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma received the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Senegal, who doubles as President of the Assembly of State Parties (ASP) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Sidiki Kaba on Thursday 13 August 2015, at the AU Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma and Mr. Sidiki Kaba discussed the Hissène Habré trial, as well as Africa’s relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

As Senegalese Justice Minister, Mr. Kaba briefed the AU Commission Chairperson on the Hissène Habré trial that kicked off on 20 July 2015, in Dakar, Senegal. Following an agreement between the AU and the Government of Senegal, an African Extraordinary Chambers was established specifically to create the jurisdiction for the trial of the former President of Chad.

The AU Commission Chairperson expressed her sincere appreciation to President Macky Sall and the people of Senegal for accepting to host the trial on behalf of Africa. This is an unprecedented trial of a former Head of State in Africa. The trial is expected to resume on 7 September 2015.

The AU Commission Chairperson and the ASP President also deliberated on the relationship between Africa and the International Criminal Court, where 34 of the 54 African Union member states are members.

Mr. Sidiki Kaba expressed his envisioned relationship between African Members and the Court: a union of ‘complementarity’ and ‘cooperation’, as the Court cannot fulfil its mandate without collaboration with Member States - since as it has no army or police. He also voiced the sentiment that there exists a general misunderstanding of the ICC among African parties, and the need to work against impunity and a negative perception.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma said that the AU is against impunity. She also added that the ICC displays a double standard in the way it relates with African States versus others. Here she reiterated that it is necessary for the ICC to explain itself better to Member States.

They discussed the issue of Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir when he was attending the AU Summit held in South Africa in June this year. The AU Commission Chairperson made it clear that there is no way an AU Head of State or Government can be arrested while attending an AU Summit. She said this can only serve to foster tension and further misconceptions.

JEE