Burundi politicians vote to withdraw from International Criminal Court
BUJUMBURA — Burundi’s lower house of parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is carrying out a preliminary probe into atrocities committed during an 18-month political crisis. "The ICC is a tool being used to try and change power" in Burundi, charged Aloys Ntakirutimana, an MP with the ruling CNDD-FDD, during a three hour debate in the National Assembly. While a few legislators argued against the draft law, it was eventually passed with 94 votes in favour, two against and 14 abstentions. It will next go to the Senate — also dominated by the ruling party — before being approved by President Pierre Nkurunziza. The central African nation has been mired in crisis since April 2015 when Nkurunziza decided to run for a third term in office, which he went on to win in a controversial election. A vicious government crackdown on protesters and widespread violence followed, which some rights organisations estimate has left mor...
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