Deputy President William Ruto has called for greater representation of Africa in the international justice system. He said the International Criminal Court (ICC) should undergo drastic changes for it to be respected as an instrument of global justice.
Speaking at the 56th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO), Nairobi yesterday, Ruto said international judicial institutions have become tools for global power politics and called on AALCO to ensure balanced representation of Africans.
His remarks come amid sustained repudiation of ICC by African leaders over its handling of cases affecting some of them. African leaders have exerted pressure on the institution with a plan for mass exit, that has seen South Africa recently initiate a withdrawal bid, albeit, unsuccessfully.
East African countries, particularly Kenya and Uganda, have been campaigning strongly for mass withdrawal, but the court has support among some West African nations.
Critics argue the court has tended to focus almost exclusively on Africans and more specifically black Africans. Worse atrocities in other countries have not featured prominently in the court’s agenda thus suggest institutional bias of the court.
“It is incumbent upon us to ensure the interests of developing nations are protected by a stable and just court…we must be champions of global institutions that are grounded in fairness,” said Ruto.
He said national sovereignty is important at the dispensation of justice. AALCO secretary general Kennedy Gaston reiterated Ruto’s remarks saying the fight against impunity cannot be left to ICC alone.
Meanwhile, Ruto offered the candidature of Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai for the post of judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. He said Muigai has extraordinary experience and distinguished career at the national and international level. He lobbied African and Asian Countries to elect him.
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