ICC's Bensouda pledges to push Kenyan cases

The International Criminal Court's new prosecutor has affirmed the decision to take on cases involving prominent Kenyans charged with orchestrating violence following the 2007 elections.

Fatou Bensouda, a 50-year-old Gambian, formally named on Monday to the prosecutor’s post, gave no indication that she will take a softer approach toward the Kenyan defendants than that Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

Ms Bensouda told reporters at the United Nations that the ICC “can contribute to preventing electoral violence from taking place” next year.

Ms Bensouda, who will take over on June 16 from Moreno-Ocampo, added that trying the cases in Kenya presented “difficulties” concerning witness protection. It was therefore decided to locate the proceedings in The Hague, she said.

The choice of an African as the ICC’s chief prosecutor should not be interpreted as suggesting that the court will change its tactics, Ms Bensouda said. She promised to continue fighting impunity.

“My own views, being an African, have nothing to do with my mandate” to carry out prosecutions at the ICC, she declared.

“I don’t agree” with Africans who complain that the court is unfairly focusing its efforts on Africa, Ms Bensouda said.

"I don't think any of us can deny that the crimes, the atrocities that are happening in Africa are crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC."

She cautioned that critics “should not think of [the court] as targeting leaders. We will continue to work with victims, whether inside or outside Africa,” she said.

Ms Bensouda also pledged to “keep the momentum” achieved by Moreno-Ocampo.