'Tumultuous' Relationship Could Lead to African Exodus from International Criminal Court

On October 31, 2016, the UN General Assembly met to consider the annual report of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the UN General Assembly. The meeting occurred in the wake of successive announcements in October of intent to withdraw from the Court by Burundi, South Africa, and Gambia.

At the meeting, Tanzania criticized the ICC's relationship with African Union states. In its words:

"[T]he United Republic of Tanzania notes that the Court has had a particularly tumultuous relationship with Africa: A relationship that has engendered fear of an African exodus from the Court... Lectures and claims of high moral ground from outside the continent are not helpful... We thus must ensure that what is done today does not make matters worse..."