African Leaders Want Prosecution Immunity For Heads Of State

African leaders want sitting heads of state to be immune from prosecution at international courts, said Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopian prime minister and the current chairman of the African Union.

“We have agreed that no charges shall be commenced or continued before any international court or tribunal against any serving heads of state or government or anybody acting or entitled to enact in such capacity during his or her term of office,” he said in a speech after leaders met in Addis Ababa today.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta won’t appear at the International Criminal Court until the United Nations Security Council responds to requests to delay his trial by a year, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom told reporters. 

All of the active cases before the ICC are against Africans, including Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, prompting complaints from the continent’s leaders that the tribunal is unfairly targeting the continent.