Kenya criticises Kofi Annan on ICC

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has dismissed former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan over his warning against leaving the Rome Statute.

“He lives in Switzerland and no longer speaks for the African Union. He is entitled to his opinions as a private citizen but I hope he is not disconnected from the rest of Africa,” she said.

Mr Annan, who mediated the Kenyan political crisis has warned that quitting the Rome Statute would be a “badge of shame” for Africa.

However, Ms Mohammed said Kenya will not lead a mass withdrawal of African states from the Rome Statute during the special AU summit that begins tomorrow, she added.

Addressing journalists in Nairobi during a news conference, she also warned that it would be unlikely for an African President to appear before a foreign court in future.

“African countries form the largest constituency of the Rome Statute and I think all of them have expressed issues that they want addressed at one time or another. The summit will present that opportunity,” she said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is scheduled to appear at the International Criminal Court (ICC), a creation of the Rome Statute, on November 12 for crimes against humanity charges.

EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT

The AU summit has been convened in Addis Ababa to this weekend to discuss Africa’s future relationship with the ICC.

Ms Amina on Wednesday pledged Kenya’s commitment to cooperate with The Hague-based court ahead of President Kenyatta’s trial.

The minister said that in advanced countries, Presidents are not hurled to courts but the courts wait until they complete their Presidential terms.

She noted that Kenya has co-operated with the ICC for the last five years, but added that President Kenyatta’s circumstances were different as he has been elected President.

The government eagerly awaits the decision of the ICC on whether it would allow the President to attend his trial via video link, she said, arguing that it was necessary to allow Mr Kenyatta’s request to enable him run the country’s affairs effectively.

“There is a request that has been put before the court for the president to be allowed to attend some of the sessions via video link,” Foreign Minister Amina Mohammed told reporters.

“We are still waiting for a decision to be made on that.”

The AU summit will begin on Friday with a ministerial executive council, and a summit meeting of Heads of States on Saturday would among other issues discuss the continent’s relationship with the ICC.

Another agenda will be election of a new AU commissioner for political affairs, after Mr Ramtane Lamamra, was appointed Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The summit will also elect a new President of state parties to the Rome Statute, according to the Cabinet Secretary.