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Thursday, March 1, 2012
Volume:
28
Issue:
3
Abstract:
On December 16, 2011, the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed charges against Mr. Callixte Mbarushimana, citing insufficient evidence to hold him criminally responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009. Mr. Mbarushimana, accused of being a senior member of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), faced eight counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity including rape and murder.[1] A few days after, on December 21, the ICC Prosecutor appealed the Pre-Trial judges’ decision.[2] However, the prosecutor’s appeal was rejected. According to ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah, “the last remaining course of action if the prosecutors want to block the release is to go back to the pre-trial panel and seek to lodge a final appeal.”
[1] Kathryn Tancos, War crimes court affirms decision to release alleged Rwandan rebel leader, CNN, Dec. 20, 2011.
[2] Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, art. 61, 7, July 17, 1998 entered into force on July 1, 2002.