05 Apr 2017 - NPWJ News Digest on international criminal justice

Articles

Mali: Spate of Killings By Armed Groups
By AllAfrica, 05 Apr 2017

Nairobi — Armed groups have carried out a wave of killings in central Mali since January 2017. The killings, by Islamist armed groups, self-defense militias, and, to a lesser extent, government soldiers, have resulted in at least 52 deaths, led to the displacement of over 10,000 people, and dramatically elevated ethnic tensions. Malian authorities should investigate and prosecute all those responsible. Islamist armed groups have over the past two years progressively increased their presence in central Mali, where they have executed civilians and government officials and committed other abuses. Their presence, and recruitment of local residents, has inflamed and exploited tensions among the Peuhl, Bambara, and Dogon ethnic groups, spawning the growth of often-abusive self-defense militias. "Violence since January fueled by explosive ethnic tensions has swept across central Mali, leaving dozens dead," said Corinne Dufka, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The Malian government should ramp up efforts to stop this violence by vigorously prosecuting the killings and stepping up patrols to protect vulnerable populations." During a 10-day research mission to Mali in February, and by phone in late February and March, Human Rights Watch interviewed 57 victims and witnesses to killings and other abuses in central Mali. Human Rights Watch also interviewed members of the ethnic Peuhl and Bambara communities; former detainees; local government, security and justice officials; and foreign diplomats.

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Italy accuses 10 of killing Regeni, removes 16 officials from list of suspects
by MadaMasr, 05 Apr 2017

The identification by Italian investigators of an initial list of defendants accused of the 2016 killing Italian student Guilio Regeni in Egypt marks a critical development in the case. An initial list of 26 names was pared down to 10 politicians and officials. Regeni’s mother, Paola Deffendi, revealed in a press conference on Monday at the Italian Senate that the family now knows who killed their son after torturing him, as well as where the crime took place. Alessandra Ballerini, the family lawyer, also said in the presser that Regeni was killed in an area that falls under the control of an Egyptian security apparatus. An Italian government source, speaking to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Italian investigators prepared a list of 26 figures whom evidence implicates in the killing of Regeni. “In order to preserve the relations between the two countries, names of politicians and officials working in sovereign executive bodies have been removed from the list,” the source said. “The responsibility of some of them is limited to knowledge of the crime, given their positions. We also removed names of those who intervened in the case after Regeni’s death.” “There are 10 names left, and this is all that we can do to preserve relations with Cairo. We expect Cairo to show the same level of care, understanding that the political and economic ties between the two countries do not allow for the case to be dropped,” the source said, adding that the list was based on information gathered from several cities. Media outlets have already reported that the Italian investigation team is expected to visit Egypt in the coming days to discuss developments.

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Africa: Uganda Not Withdrawing From ICC - Attorney General
By The Observer, 05 Apr 2017

Uganda has not made any attempt to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC) attorney general William Byaruhanga has said. Byaruhanga was presenting before parliament, a statement on the status of Uganda's membership to The Hague-based court following fears, that Uganda was likely to end its relationship with the court, in the wake of withdrawals by South Africa, Burundi and The Gambia. The three had announced intentions to withdraw from the Rome Statute, claiming that the court has been used to persecute African leaders. However, The Gambia rescinded the position after its authoritarian leader Yahya Jammeh was ousted in a presidential ballot. The decision by South Africa, was also blocked by a judge, who said, that the planned withdrawal was unconstitutional without prior parliamentary approval. Uganda, like Kenya and Namibia has previously criticized the ICC for being biased against African leaders while ignoring atrocities and crimes against humanity masterminded by leaders in Western countries. Nine out of the 10 cases being investigated by the ICC involve alleged crimes in Africa.

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Met police look at allegations of Saudi war crimes in Yemen
by The Guardian, 02 Apr 2017

Scotland Yard is examining allegations of war crimes by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, the Guardian can reveal, triggering a possible diplomatic row with Britain on the eve of Theresa May’s visit to the Arab state. The Metropolitan police confirmed that their war crimes unit was assessing whether criminal prosecutions could be brought over Saudi Arabia’s devastating aerial campaign in Yemen. The force’s SO15 counter-terrorism unit revealed to a London human rights lawyer that it had launched a “scoping exercise” into the claims before Maj Gen Ahmed al-Asiri’s visit to the capital last week. The revelation comes as May plans to underline Britain’s close relationship with the Saudi royal family on her visit to the Arab state this week, in which tackling the terror threat from Islamic State will be a key factor. Speaking in advance of the trip, in which she will also visit Jordan, the prime minister said she wanted to “herald a further intensification in relations between our countries and deepen true strategic partnerships”. She argued that the intelligence relationship with Saudi Arabia had been critical, potentially saving hundreds of lives in the UK, and claimed there were huge possibilities for closer trade links as the UK moves towards leaving the European Union.

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