ICC: Gambia Officially Notifies UN of Withdrawal

The United Nations have confirmed that Gambia has officially notified them of their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.

A spokesperson for the UN has confirmed the pullout from Gambia.

Gambia is now following in the footsteps of two other African countries – South Africa and Burundi – who have also formally withdrawn from the ICC.

According to Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the UN, Gambia’s formal withdrawal has now been processed:

“…We have received the official, formal notification, which has now been processed,’ he said in a statement.

The UN also confirmed that Gambia’s withdrawal will take place exactly one year after the official letter had been received, which is on November 4th.

Thus Gambia will be formally removed from the ICC on November 4th, 2017.

Several other African countries are also planning on withdrawing from the ICC, including countries such as Namibia, Kenya and Uganda.

The countries are all claiming that the ICC are persecuting Africans and their respective leaders unfairly. They also believe – among other things – that the ICC purposefully ignores crimes of the West.
Despite an appeal from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to remain within the ICC, the African countries have decided to go ahead with their withdrawal.