On 12 October 2016, the Parliament of the Republic of Burundi voted in support for a plan to withdraw its country from the Rome Statute ("Statute"), the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court ("ICC").
Taking note of this decision, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, H.E. Mr. Sidiki Kaba, expressed concern about this development. "The withdrawal from the Statute by a State Party would represent a setback in the fight against impunity and the efforts towards the objective of universality of the Statute," indicated President Kaba. "I remind that all States Parties have the opportunity to share their concerns before the Assembly of States Parties in accordance with the Statute and invite the Burundian authorities to engage in a dialogue."
The International Criminal Court is the first international permanent jurisdiction in charge of prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Rome Statute of the ICC entered into force on 1 July 2002 and has 124 States Parties to date.