After taking steps in late September to ratify its constitution, Côte d'Ivoire (otherwise known as the Ivory Coast) could become the newest member of the International Criminal Court. 121 countries have ratified the Rome Statute to date, making them State Parties to the ICC. Of this number, 32 are from Sub-Saharan Africa. With the renewed possibility of a ratification by Côte d'Ivoire, both of these numbers are likely to grow in the coming months.
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| Ivory Coast is likely to ratify the Rome Statute, becoming the 122nd State Party to the ICC--BBC News |
The Ivory Coast ceded jurisdiction to the court in 2003, but until recently the ratification process has gained little traction. This is partly due to the election crisis in 2010, which led to the 2011 civil war and an investigation by the ICC. Laurent Gbagbo, the former Ivorian president who refused to step down after losing the election, is awaiting trial in the Hague on charges of rape, murder, and other crimes against humanity.
As the country regains stability under its new president Alassane Ouatarra, its people are looking toward the future, recognizing the need to become full members of the court. As stated in an Ivorian press release, once the ratification process is completed, Côte d'Ivoire can "finally sit among the democratic nations
fighting for effective, fair and impartial international criminal justice".
