afrol News, 14 August - Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has paid a two-day visit to Senegal to update President Abdoulaye Wade on the activities of his office in the four situations - the Democratic Republic of Congo, Northern Uganda, Sudan's Darfur region and the Central African region - currently before the court.

"The situation in Darfur is at present one of our primary challenges," Luis Moreno-Ocampo said, noting that President Wade and the other African leaders have responsibilities in Darfur that are of a political nature.

The prosecutor's office is investigating crimes in all the four situations still engulfed in various degrees of conflict. The court investigates and prosecutes persons accused of serious international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

"My mandate is a legal one. My duty is to uncover the truth about the crimes. It is African women that are being raped in Darfur. It is African children that are being killed in Darfur. It is African peacekeepers that are dying in Darfur. It is therefore the countries within the region that may be able to resolve this situation."

He said "each of us has our own role to play but we all share a common goal: protecting the victims, stopping the crimes and ending impunity."

The ICC prosecutor also had dialogue with key Senegalese officials and visited the former African slave port and UN world heritage centre in Gorée Island off the coast of the capital Dakar.

Mrs. Fatou Bensouda, ICC deputy prosecutor was also in the Botswana capital Gbarone to take part in the regional lawyers' association annual conference, to discuss how the court and southern African lawyers can work together on regional and international justice issues.

She had the opportunity to discuss with key officials, including President Festus Mogae and Attorney General Athalia. Mrs. Bensouda, a Gambian, was assured of Botswana's full support for the activities of the ICC.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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