St. Petersburg, Russia – Uganda’s Minister of Justice Norbert Mao has called for urgent reforms at the International Criminal Court (ICC), warning that the court risks losing credibility if it continues to be used as a tool for political agendas rather than delivering impartial justice.
Speaking during the 13th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, Mao expressed support for the concept of international justice, but criticized the ICC for failing to apply it equally across nations.
“A court should be a court of law—not a court for settling political scores. We believe in international justice. But justice must be based on equality,” Mao stated in an interview with Sputnik Africa.
Uganda, which was once a strong backer of the ICC, now stands with the African Union in raising questions about whether the court treats all countries fairly. The AU has previously debated the possibility of a collective withdrawal from the ICC, citing concerns over its selective focus on African leaders while ignoring more powerful states.
Mao’s comments echo a growing sentiment across the continent that for international law to maintain legitimacy, it must uphold equal accountability regardless of a country’s economic or political power.
Source: Sputnik
