Gambia reverses its ICC withdrawal – EU
Publish date: 13 February 2017
Issue Number: 714
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Corruption
An EU official said The Gambia's new President has confirmed that the country will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), after the previous leader began the formal withdrawal process last year. The EU commissioner for international co-operation and development, Neven Mimica, discussed the issue with President Adama Barrow. A report on the Globe and Mail site notes that the former leader, Yahya Jammeh, formally notified the UN Secretary-General that it would withdraw from the ICC. Withdrawal comes a year after notification. Gambia was one of three countries, including Burundi and South Africa, to begin its withdrawal. Last month, leaders from the 55-nation AU adopted a non-binding strategy calling for a collective withdrawal from the ICC, saying the court has focused too narrowly on prosecuting African leaders.