adminto the East African nation, African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said.
African foreign ministers who met last week in the Ethiopian capital agreed to a request to “terminate the case at the level of the ICC and to rely on the national judiciary that is being reformed,” Lamamra said in an interview yesterday.
“I assume the heads of states will reinforce what the ministers have been doing,” he said.
Kenyatta (51), is the second sitting president, after Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir, to face trial at The Hague-based ICC.
The Kenyan leader and Ruto (46), are accused of organising and financing militias to carry out murders after a disputed 2007 presidential election sparked ethnic and political violence in which more than 1 100 people died.
The two men, who came to power following a vote in March, say they will fight for their innocence at the court.
Meanwhile, Zambian President Michael Sata backed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction to try Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
President Sata speaking on behalf of a committee said the time has come for Africa to fully handle its own affairs.
Responding to questions from journalists from various African countries shortly after he adjourned the committee of 10 heads of state on the United Nations reforms on Friday evening which he chaired, President Sata said Africans should not rely on foreign elements and allow the West to meddle in their internal affairs.
President Sata said since Independence, many countries were making progress.
“It’s time that Africa should handle its own affairs. We should not allow foreigners to be coming to interfere with us.
“If you find Kenyan President or Zambian President is at fault with the Kenyan people or Zambian people, let the Kenyan or Zambian people deal with him, not somebody in Hague. Why can’t they (Westerners) try their own relatives?” he asked.
President Sata was saying this in reference to President Kenyatta, who is currently facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC.
“What jurisdiction do they have? You have to look at the jurisdiction. Where do you find a European court that has jurisdiction in Africa?” President Sata asked.
“There are more cases in Europe which they are not dealing with.
“They are going back to old colonial era. It is time all the Africans . . . become in charge of your own affairs because during this struggle, we were not going to court in London.
“We were not going to court in Hague. They were taking us to local courts in our own countries.
“Why should we be going somewhere else (to be tried)?
“You the Kenyan people, if during the struggle, or during elections you killed each other, the people who killed — you book.” — The Post Newspapers Zambia/bloomberg.com.
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