Ivory Coast will not leave ICC - Ouattara

Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara says his country will not quit the International Criminal Court.

Alassane Ouattara spoke in France after meeting with French president François Hollande at the Elysee palace.

‘‘These are sovereign decisions, but the Ivory Coast will not leave the ICC. I think most countries share this belief. It’s about fighting impunity, it’s in our interest. We must begin with justice on a national level, and then if possible at a regional and continental level, but it’s not the case today on a continental level. So the International Criminal Court does its work and often, by the way, at the request of African countries, the African authorities”. Ouattara’s remarks follows the decision of Burundi, South Africa and the Gambia to leave the international court.

The Ivorian leader called Nicholas Sarkozy’s decision to withdraw from politics ‘courageous’.

The meeting between the Ivorian and French presidents focused on cooperation between the two countries including debt reduction, development projects and the fight against terrorism.

AFP