July 26, 2010 — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to establish a liaison office in Addis Ababa after years of discussions on the initiative, according to news report from Sudan Tribune.

This comes after Judge Sang-Hyun Song, President of the ICC, concluded a two day visit to Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union (AU) and met with its Commission Chairperson Jean Ping, who reiterated the body’s commitment to end impunity.

A statement by the ICC said that both Ping and Song agreed that the AU and the ICC share the common value of ending impunity and bringing about lasting peace.

African states have feared that The Hague was stalling on financing a launch to the liaison office after African countries collectively resolved not to cooperate with the ICC in arresting and handing over Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir who is wanted by the court for war crimes he allegedly committed in Darfur,

The Kenyan Attorney-general Amos Wako, who was mandated by African countries to write to the ICC to question the delay in establishing the office, was yesterday happy that finally, The Hague had agreed to fund the office.

Source: Sudan Tribune