23 Mar 2016

Botswana welcomes the guilty verdict issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the former DRC vice president, Jean-Pierre Pemba.

A press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that the verdict sends a strong message that impunity for crimes against humanity will not be tolerated. 

It states that Pemba was convicted of counts of crimes against humanity, involving murder and rape as well as three counts of war crimes, murder and pillaging.

“These were all in relation to attacks in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003 by troops under his command,” states the release.

It further says it is Botswana’s considered view that the conviction of Pemba is a strong indication of the ICC’s capability to punish and deter perpetrators of such crimes.

“This one of the main reasons why Botswana supports the work of the court and will continue to do so,” says the release.

Botswana, as state party to the Rome Statue that established the ICC, and a supporter of the Court, strongly believes that those who are responsible for the violation of the preservation and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, war crimes, mass atrocities and crimes against humanity should be held accountable for their deeds. Ends