On 26 October 2017, Burundi’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute – the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC) – took effect. This withdrawal is just the tip of the iceberg of a long-lasting confrontation between the ICC and some African states. When the Assembly of States (ASP) Parties to the Rome Statute convenes today for its 16th annual session in New York, the stakes are high as the ICC faces major challenges. The ASP should take on the dwindling support and criticism from the African Union (AU) as well as African states and bolster the ICC: States Parties should defend the integrity of the Statute, back the ICC’s budget, further outreach activities as well as the regional scope of investigations and strengthen the cooperation with the Court.
Author: Antonio Arcudi
Antonio Arcudi is a Research Associate in the International Institutions Department at PRIF. In his research, he focuses on the contestation of international norms and institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the Responsibility to Protect. | Twitter: @AntonioArcudi2
