Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, on the occasion of the 28 September 2013 elections in Guinea
Parliamentary elections will be held in Guinea on 28 September 2013. This day also marks the fourth anniversary of the tragic events that took place on 28 September 2009 at the Conakry national stadium, during which serious crimes under the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction were allegedly committed against the civilian population. Since then, my Office has been conducting a preliminary examination of the situation in Guinea.
In accordance with our policy of encouraging national proceedings, my Office has been engaging with the Guinean authorities on an on-going basis. As a result, a national investigation into the events of 28 September 2009 is underway and already several persons who may be amongst those most responsible for the crimes committed have been charged. I encourage the authorities to continue their efforts and to ensure that justice is done for the victims as soon as possible. I also urge the international community to support Guinea’s efforts in this regard.
At the same time, it is my Office’s sincere hope that the unfortunate events of September 2009 will not be repeated. On the eve of the long awaited elections, tension is palpable in the streets of Conakry and the rest of the country. In these circumstances, appeals for calm and restraint by the political leaders of all parties are particularly welcome. Let me again stress that anyone who seeks to incite violence, to order, request, encourage or contribute in any other way to the commission of crimes falling within the ambit of the Court’s subject matter jurisdiction is liable to be prosecuted before the International Criminal Court. There will be no impunity for international crimes committed in Guinea.