ICC: We Are Monitoring Situation in Mali
The International Criminal Court is following the situation in Mali with a view to ascertaining whether crimes falling within the ICC’s jurisdiction have been committed by parties in the wake of the recent coup d’état. Following the ouster of Mali’s democratically-elected government by a group of soldiers on March 22, rebel groups have seized much of northern Mali and declared independence from the central government. The declaration has yet to be recognised by any state.
The statement recently issued by the Office of the Prosecutor noted that sources including senior UN officials have indicated serious crimes such as killings, abduction, rapes and conscription of children may have occurred in Mali. Mali is a State Party to the ICC’s Rome Statute.
