"Burundi on Friday became the first nation ever to leave the international criminal court, set up 15 years ago to prosecute those behind the world's worst atrocities.
The government on Friday hailed it a 'historic' day and called on people to demonstrate across the country on Saturday in celebration.
An ICC spokesperson said: 'Burundi's withdrawal from the Rome Statute will take effect on Friday, 27 October 2017.'
The move comes a year to the day after Bujumbura officially notified the United Nations that it was quitting the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal.
'The ICC has shown itself to be a political instrument and weapon used by the west to enslave' other states, said presidential office spokesman Willy Nyamitwe. 'This is a great victory for Burundi because it has defended its sovereignty and national pride.'...
However, ICC officials said a preliminary investigation launched by the prosecutor in April 2016 into possible crimes against humanity in the central African nation would continue. 'Burundi's withdrawal does not affect the jurisdiction of the court with respect to crimes alleged to have been committed during the time it was a state party, namely up until 27 October 2017,' the spokesperson said.
The initial investigation was started by ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda following reports of 'killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as cases of enforced disappearances'..."