African Union opposes the ICC: AU Chairman Kagame

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, Sudan

African countries oppose the International Criminal Court (ICC), Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s president and chairman of the African Union, declared in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Wednesday.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Sudanese counterpart Omer Al-Bashir, Kagame said that African leaders are victims of The Hague-based court.

“We have also talked about the International Criminal Court, and I can say our opposition has been very clear for us,” he said.

“So we look for what we need to do and what we need for Africa in order to be independent and advance our position not to be always a victim of this international court,” he added.

Kagame, who was elected AU chairman last year, also called for deep political and structural reforms to the union in order to face its many regional and global challenges.

For his part, Al-Bashir praised Rwanda’s positions towards the ICC and other international issues.

He further commended the last presidential elections in Rwanda, which gave Kagame a new term in power, describing the poll as a democratic African example that supported national stability.

The two presidents further agreed to push their bilateral political and trade ties forward.

Kagame began a two-day visit to Sudan on Wednesday.