Botswana Backs Kenya ICC Withdrawal Bid

BOTSWANA has supported Kenya’s request for a deferral of the ICC cases against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Kenya’s High Commissioner to Botswana Jean Kimani yesterday said the country backs the bringing of the ICC trials to East Africa “They say other aspects of the Rome Statute should be dealt with at the state parties conference later this month,” she said in Gaborone.

Kimani defended Botswana’s Foreign Minister who earlier this year said Uhuru will not be allowed into their country because of the ICC case. “We were told from the highest level that this wasn’t the position of the government of Botswana, and that the media had taken them out of context,” she said. Botswana Foreign Minister Skelemani said in March : “If Uhuru refuses to go to The Hague, then we have a problem. That means that they do not know the rule of law. You can’t establish a court and refuse to go when it calls you. If he refuses, he won’t set foot here.” Uhuru is paying a one-day visit to Botswana today on the invitation of President Khama Ian Khama. The ICC is expected to feature prominently in their discussions. Uhuru and Khama are also expected to discuss other bilateral issues including signing a memorandum on mining. Botswana hosts more than 5,000 Kenyans including businesspeople, doctors, nurses, lecturers, architects and engineers. Kenya Airways flies six times a week to Gaborone. The country did not support the African Union proposal for a mass walkout from the ICC. However, last month, Botswana said it supports the deferral of Uhuru’s case even though it remains committed to its obligations under the Rome Statues. Yesterday, experts from the 15 member states of the Security Council will have a preliminary discussion of the draft resolution for deferral circulated by Rwanda, Togo and Morocco. Meanwhile Kenya has added a new ground for seeking deferral of the ICC cases against Uhuru and Ruto. In a letter dated November 4 to the ICC Assembly of State Parties and Non-Aligned Movement, Kenya states that a deferral is necessary to allow anticipated amendments to the rules of the Rome Statute. - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-142564/botswana-backs-icc-deferral-bid#sthash.599rnbcP.dpuf