The Pan African Business Forum (PABF) is appealing to the African Union (AU) to speak out against what it terms the interference of third parties namely Israel and its allies aimed at discrediting, undermining, and bringing the International Criminal Court (ICC) into disrepute.
The group argues that the situation, if left unchecked, could pose a global threat to world peace and stability, including destabilising the mandate of the ICC.
On 21 November 2024, the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, together with his team, issued warrants of arrest against two key Israeli officials: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
These warrants were issued on grounds that the two are allegedly responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts against the people of Palestine.
According to the Business Forum, the ICC an independent judicial body that upholds the rules of international criminal law has, in recent months, faced backlash, blackmail, threats, and intimidation from many so-called pro-Israeli countries aligned with Israel, owing to the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Appalled by the developments since October 2024, the Pan African Business Forum has expressed grave concerns. The Forum noted that the world has witnessed an onslaught and systemic massacre of innocent Palestinian civilians by the Israeli Defence Forces, with an estimated death toll of over 51,000—30% of whom are under the age of 18.
The Executive Committee of the PABF, in solidarity with the broader international community, has strongly condemned these atrocities.
The Forum is advocating for the prosecution of these crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression by the State of Israel against Palestine and its people by the ICC.
Appeal to the African Union
In a letter dated 21 July 2025 and addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairman of the PABF, Dr Ladislas Prosper Agbesi, writing on behalf of the Executive Committee, appealed to:
“the leadership of the African Union (AU), together with all AU member states, to take a strong position against the interference of the State of Israel and its allies in the work of the ICC. The AU and the African continent shall take a strong position against the State of Israel and its allies and condemn all negative forces that are undermining the work and mandate of the ICC.”
Since its establishment, it is well documented that the majority of criminal cases brought before the ICC originated from the African continent. Many former heads of state, warlords, military leaders, and rebels have been successfully prosecuted by the ICC, in most instances with the full cooperation of the African states where those crimes were committed, as well as with ICC state parties and the wider international community. Throughout these processes, the ICC has operated independently and without third-party interference.
In view of this, the Executive Committee of the PABF strongly believes that the AU and the African continent should stand in solidarity with the ICC. The PABF has pledged its unconditional and unwavering support and confidence in the ICC as an independent institution, in its Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, and in the Court’s entire staff.
“By virtue of the excellent and impactful work the ICC has achieved across the African continent in particular and the world in general in prosecuting war crimes under the leadership of Karim Khan,” the letter stated, “the PABF would like to appeal to the AU to speak against the interference of third parties Israel and its allies in their concerted efforts to discredit, undermine, and bring the ICC into disrepute. If unchecked, this could pose a global threat to world peace and stability, including destabilising the mandate of the ICC.”
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