Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its heavy focus on African leaders. FILE - Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni reacts during a news conference at the Nakasero State Lodge in the capital Kampala, October 16, 2011 (Reuters) He accused the court of setting its agenda to target leaders from the continent, urging African leaders to work towards withdrawing their membership. Museveni was speaking at a mass service to mark the 52nd anniversary of Uganda’s independence, He says he invited heads of state and government from across the region to the country’s independence celebrations. The African Union is currently reviewing its relationship with the ICC, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands. “I support for membership withdrawal. The court has no sense, only with an aim to target our leaders in the region,” Museveni told the service at Kololo on Thursday. Museveni’s comments come after Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta stepped down earlier this week, handing over power to his deputy, William Ruto, in order to face charges brought against him by the ICC as an ordinary citizen. The charges relate to post-election violence in 2007 Kenyatta is accused of masterminding in which thousands of Kenyans died. The ICC has indicted several African leaders, including Sudan’s president, Omer Hassan al-Bashir, who is accused of committing atrocities amounting to genocide in the western Darfur region. Bashir has refused to cooperate with the court and rejects warrants issued for his arrest. Kenyatta, who is charged with committing crimes against humanity, is the first sitting head of state to appear before the ICC. The case has angered many African leaders, who accuse the court of bias and are calling for sitting heads of state and government to be exempt from prosecution, saying such moves infringe on the sovereignty of nations. The Ugandan president has urged African leaders to unite and work for peace and development across the continent. The presidents of Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya sent their representatives to attend independence celebrations in Uganda.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 09:25:56 +0000
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