Namibia to withdraw from the International Criminal Court

An exodus of African countries from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is on the horizon following Namibia’s resolution to pull out of the court citing selective prosecution of African leaders.

Namibia which ratified the Rome Statute and by extension joined the ICC in 2002, becomes the second African country to resolve a withdrawal, 5 months after South Africa’s African National Congress passed similar recommendations to withdraw membership from the court.

The move by Namibia is expected to embolden other African countries to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – which is largely viewed as an appendage of the West’s hegemonic hold on developing countries.

At a media briefing late last month, Namibia’s Information Minister Tjekero Tweya disclosed that his country’s Cabinet’s had recommended pulling out of the ICC and had tasked the Ministry of International Relations and Co-operation to review the country’s foreign policy.

Namibia together with many African countries, has repeatedly criticized the ICC for being blatantly biased against African and other developing nations – including targeting African leaders. In a speech delivered at the African Union in South Africa this year, Namibian President Gage Geingob said the ICC was becoming an “abomination” by abrogating its mandate.

University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Lawrence Mandara said Namibia’s resolution to pull out of the ICC confirmed a long held African position that the body was a mere political tool used by powerful nations to bring developing nations in line with the former’s interests.

“When Namibia signed the Rome statue, I am sure they had good intentions but have since realized that the court does not serve their interests as a nation. It is within their right to pull out – Namibia is just a pacesetter – I won’t be surprised to see other African nations doing the same,” said Mandara.

He added it was very likely that at its general assembly meeting next year, the African Union is going to pass a resolution for a continental pull out from the ICC.

Another political analyst, Professor Charity Manyeruke, said Namibia had done the right thing given ICC’s checkered history in the application of law.

“The conduct of ICC in terms of conducting its business has been biased against African countries and other developing nations. When an institution is being used by other powerful nations for their own selfish ends, that institution looses credibility and will no longer be serving any good,” Manyeruke said.

She said the ICC’s role was meant to reduce Africans to puppets of the West and it does not augur well that its chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, was an African from Gambia.

There are currently 15 cases currently before the ICC – all of them against Africans. There is every indication that the institution is targeting African leaders, working to a script written in Washington, Paris and London.