ICC Charges Duterte, Faces West African Exodus

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte with crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the killings of thousands of people during his 'war on drugs'. The charges, which were made public on Monday, accuse Duterte of being an 'indirect co-perpetrator' in the murders of dozens of people, including small-time drug dealers and users, between 2013 and 2022. Duterte has not apologized for his anti-drugs crackdown, which resulted in the deaths of over 6,000 people, and has instead claimed that he was trying to rid the country of street crimes. The ICC's charges are a significant development in the ongoing efforts to hold Duterte accountable for his actions while in office.

Three West African countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have announced their immediate withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing its alleged failure to prosecute war crimes and its perceived bias against less privileged countries. The three military-led countries, which have close ties to Russia, issued a joint statement criticizing the ICC's effectiveness and expressing their desire to establish indigenous mechanisms for peace and justice. The ICC has not yet responded to the decision. The withdrawal is likely to take effect one year after the UN is notified. The three countries have faced accusations of committing crimes against civilians as they battle jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Their decision to leave the ICC comes after they simultaneously withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) earlier this year, rejecting Ecowas' demands for them to restore democratic rule.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has been charged with three counts of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged involvement in at least 76 murders during his 'war on drugs' campaign. The charges stem from his time as mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines, where rights groups say thousands were killed. Duterte is currently in ICC detention in The Hague, but his lawyer has claimed he is unfit to stand trial due to cognitive impairment.