Saikou Jammeh, AfricaNews reporter in Banjul, Gambia
The deputy chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Fatou Bensouda has revealed she will pay a visit to Guinea Conakry somewhere this month to investigate the recent civilian massacre allegedly perpetuated by the Junta.
Speaking to AfricaNews Bensouda said the ICC is keen to take action on the bloodbath but must be there in advance to gather enough evidence.
“There is an intrinsic link between justice and peace,” she said, “by putting an end to impunity for the perpetrators of most serious crimes, the court can and will contribute to the prevention of such crimes, thus having a deterrent effect.”
The resource-rich West African state hit world news headlines after security forces surrounded the main stadium of peaceful protesters and opened fire on them.
An in-depth investigation into the matter by Human Rights Watch uncovered evidences of widespread sexual violence committed by security personnel.
About 150-200 people were confirmed dead, according to the group’s report. That number far exceeds the official toll of 57 dead and over 1000 injured.
Bensouda pointed out that the ICC has built a global community with new technologies, where communities and people that are isolated before are today communicating at a “tremendous speed”.
“Global crimes, that transcend borders; affects entire regions and continent, but with no global government to fight it, and with poor national institutional backing, hence ICC and the Rome Statute creates global governance without government but with global international law and courts,” she further stated.
Bensouda called for strong and consistent diplomatic and political action by all actors to ensure compliance with the courts decision.
"When it comes to perpetrators of massive crimes, there should be only one answer: the full and transparent implementation of the law”, she added.
The ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo had in a statement last year confirmed that the situation in Guinea is under preliminary examination in order to determine whether crimes falling under the court’s jurisdiction have been perpetrated.
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