International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda
has said she is ready for a legal debate with the African Union over the
cases facing Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William
Ruto.
Ms Bensouda Thursday denied the AU’s assertions that the court has been targeting only African leaders. (READ: ICC chief slams critics after African Union attack)
She maintained that justice to millions of victims
of crimes against humanity would only be achieved through judicial
channels and not by "political bodies".
"This is a judicial process, the outcome of which
is independently decided by judges. The Office of the Prosecutor stands
ready to engage in any legal debate regarding its on-going cases in
Kenya," she said.
The Prosecutor said her office was ready to work
with the AU to end the suffering of millions of victims of atrocious
crimes around the world.
"The only way for justice to take its course is
through judicial channels," she noted saying critics of the court were
defending perpetrators of war crimes.
The court’s president, Mr Sang-Hyun Song, also said it’s decisions were taken independently and not on regional considerations.
Regarding the discussions at last week’s AU summit
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr Song said the court worked strictly within
the mandate and legal framework created by the Rome Statute and could
not take political factors into account.
He emphasised that the court’s relationship with
Africa was important since 34 African countries signed the Rome Statute.
During the summit last Sunday, African presidents supported a call to
drop crimes against humanity charges facing President Kenyatta and Mr
Ruto.
The leaders said the trials should be done by national courts.
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