Nkurunziza signs law withdrawing Burundi's ICC membership

Burundi president, Pierre Nkurunziza, has officially appended his signature to the decision of the country to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Burundi becomes the first State Party to pull out of the Rome Statute, the treaty that led to the establishment of the court 18 years ago.

The presidency posted an official statement to that effect on its twitter handle. The document was co signed by Aimee Laurentine Kanyana, the Minister of Justice and president Nkurunziza.

Le Président pnkurunziza a promulgué la Loi 1/14 du 18-10-2016 portant retrait de la République du #Burundi du Statut de Rome de la #CPI pic.twitter.com/fdvg341hTP

— Burundi | Présidence (BdiPresidence) October 18, 2016

This is the latest in a series of events surrounding the country’s decision to quit the international judicial organ. Earlier today, the ICC president said they were concerned over Burundi’s decision and called for dialogue on the way forward.

The ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, had hinted that she was investigating violence and possible war crimes violations relating to violence in 2015 when Nkurunziza announced that he was seeking a third term.

The cabinet presented a document seeking as part of its ICC exit plans. The legislature voted in a landslide late last week to back the cabinet move. It will however take up to a year before Burundi can successfully be out of the ICC.