Uhuru Kenyatta ICC case to be put off, Western diplomats say
President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives for the extraordinary session of the African Union's Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the case of African Relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC), in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, October 12, 2013. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
The western leaders' move is aimed at avoiding a stand-off between the ICC and African countries after the African Union directed the President not to attend the trial.
Western diplomats have reached a deal to have the UN Security Council defer Uhuru Kenyatta's International Criminal Court trial by a year, according to a report in The Telegraph.
The western leaders' move is aimed at avoiding a stand-off between the ICC and African countries after the African Union directed the President not to attend the trial.
Speaking at the African Union extraordinary summit, President Kenyatta accused the court of being used by European and American governments, adding that the court had humiliated and stigmatised him and his Deputy William Ruto.
Speaking to The Telegraph, a senior European diplomat said: “Uhuru is not an indicted figure who is defying the court like Sudan’s president (Omar) Bashir. He is someone who is working closely with the West in a region in chaos that needs to tackle a very worrying terrorist situation,” adding that a solution must be found that avoids a breakdown in relations with President Kenyatta or the court’s authority.
(VIDEO: Uhuru urged to skip ICC trial)
