Africa highlights: ICC throws out Kenya deputy president case, Zuma survives impeachment attempt

The rights group Amnesty International has said that the ICC decision to throw out the case against Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto and broadcaster Joshua arap Sang should not "derail efforts to ensure justice for victims".

More than 1,000 people died in the violence that followed the 2007 presidential election.

Amnesty's deputy director for Africa Michelle Kagari said that "this is not the end of the road for the victims. In fact, victims should be able to seek justice for these crimes in the future".

African heads of states will begin using an African passport from July this year, as the African Union (AU) pushes for continent-wide use of the travel document. 

 AU chairperson Dlamini Zuma says this will greatly improve the free movement of people and also speed up the integration of the continent. 

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She says the decision follows the adoption of proposal by heads of state in January, to have all African countries allow 30-day visa free travel for Africans.

She was speaking at the close of the Africa Development Week in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

BBCCopyright: BBC

In our 12:33 post we wrote that flooding caused by heavy rains in Ethiopia has killed 15 people. It was in Jijiga, a region which has been affected by the recent drought.

We wanted to know why such heavy rains would follow a drought.

BBC Weather Presenter Darren Bett explains that on this occasion the seasonal rains in Ethiopia arrived a few weeks late. 

This allowed the heat to build in the sunshine in the dry season. 

There will continue to be heavy downpours over the next seven days in the area, he adds. 

As soon as the decision was announced that the ICC had thrown out the case against Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto celebrations broke out in his home town of Eldoret.

Here's a video shot from a balcony:

The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has tweeted after the International Criminal Court (ICC) threw out the case against the Deputy President William Ruto and broadcaster Joshua arap Sang:

Mr Kenyatta was also accused of crimes against humanity by the ICC.

They were both accused of being involved in the violence after Kenya's election in 2007 where 1,200 died. 

But the prosecution withdrew charges against him in 2014.

The prosecutor's office said the Kenyan government had refused to hand over evidence vital to the case.  

We earlier reported that the International Criminal Court declared that there was a mistrial in the case against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto.

We now have the entire 258 page ruling which makes it clearer that only one of the judges says there was a mistrial.

The wording that the ICC used was "the case has been terminated".

Specifically it says 

 "The charges against the accused are vacated and the accused discharged without prejudice to their prosecution afresh in future.  

This still means that Mr Ruto is free to go. 

The vote is now going on in South Africa's National Assembly over whether to impeach President Jacob Zuma.

The deputy speaker initially called for MPs to shout in turn whether they agreed or disagreed with the motion, but the opposition called for a formal vote.

The ANC has a large majority in parliament so it is unlikely to agree to the motion. 

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Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta says he is "delighted" by the International Criminal Court's decision to terminate the cases of Deputy President William Ruto and broadcaster Joshua arap Sang.

In a statement he adds:

Quote Message: This moment is long overdue but no less joyful. I join my brothers in celebrating their moment of justice."

This moment is long overdue but no less joyful. I join my brothers in celebrating their moment of justice."

He also criticises the ICC process which he says pursued an "ill-conceived, defective agenda at the expense of accountability for the post-election violence".

He says that the quest for justice continues:

Quote Message: We will continue the work of healing the nation, uniting the people, reconciling communities and ensuring that justice for the victims is achieved."

We will continue the work of healing the nation, uniting the people, reconciling communities and ensuring that justice for the victims is achieved."

Quote Message: We will do everything to make it up for Kenyans where this international institution has failed them."

We will do everything to make it up for Kenyans where this international institution has failed them."

This International Criminal Court decision to terminate the case against Kenya's deputy president was more a defeat for the prosecution than a victory for William Ruto. 

His defence team hadn't even started presenting their arguments in court, all they had to do was highlight the weakness of the prosecution's case - and they've essentially won. 

The judges agreed that the evidence was no longer sufficient to justify continuing with the trial, although they decided a judgement of acquittal was not the right outcome.

Instead they ruled that the charges should be "vacated" and the accused discharged. 

This decision leaves the way open for a possible future prosecution - if the prosecutor can find sufficient evidence. 

The prosecution can appeal against the termination of the trial.

AFPCopyright: AFP

If you are just catching up on the news that the International Criminal Court has declared a mistrial in the case against Kenya's deputy president, here's a little background on what the case was about:

William Ruto was accused of being involved in post-election violence where around 1,200 people were killed.

In December 2007 Kenya held a presidential election contested by the incumbent Mwai Kibaki from the Kikuyu tribe and Raila Odinga who was from the Luo ethnic group but was also widely supported by the Kalenjin tribe who dominate the Rift Valley.

Mr Kibaki was declared the winner but Mr Odinga claimed the vote had been rigged and violence broke out between rival groups of supporters.

Along with the deaths came the displacement of thousands of others.

After negotiations to form a national unity government and a failure to set up a process in Kenya to try alleged perpetrators, cases went to the International Criminal Court.

AFPCopyright: AFP

The declaration of a mistrial in the cases against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and radio broadcaster Joshua arap Sang means that no-one will now be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court in connection with the violence that followed Kenya's 2007 election, unless the prosecutor appeals.

Six Kenyans were initially referred to the ICC including the current President Uhuru Kenyatta over the violence in which more than 1,000 people died.

Tweeters are reacting to reports of cheers in parts of Kenya at the news that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has thrown out the case against Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto:

Some tweeters are angry at the news:

And others are speculating what this should mean for the ICC and for Kenya now:

Mr Ruto denied murder, deportation and persecution charges during violence that followed the 2007 elections in which about 1,200 people were killed.  

The BBC's Wanyama wa Chebusiri is reporting on Focus on Africa radio on the BBC World Service from William Ruto's home area of Eldoret, you can hear people cheering in the background as he reports. 

People are also cheering in a part of the capital, Nairobi, according to this tweet: 

The International Criminal Court has released a YouTube video saying that judges have decided by a majority to terminate the cases against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and radio broadcaster Joshua arap Sang.

It says that this decision does not stop a prosecution in the future and the decision is subject to an appeal.

An international lawyer has tweeted a picture of what appears to be the International Criminal Court's ruling throwing out the case against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and co-accused Joshua arap Sang:

Kenyans on Twitter affectionately refer to themselves as #KOT - and they are not to be messed with.

The group has become a vociferous part of the Twitter landscape, often campaigning about a perceived injustice.

Now Tanzanians are hoping to emulate their success with Tanzanians on Twitter or #TOT.

But the Tanzanians are taking this one step further - they are establishing a governing body.

You can follow the electoral commission on @uchaguzi2016, which is Swahili for election.

They have voted in a president - Fredrick Boshe - who appointed a the minister for information - Michael Paul Baruti

He told the BBC's Sammy Awami that he doesn't intend any rivalry with #KOT:

Quote Message: "We've realised we are neighbours and both have quite a huge presence on Twitter."

"We've realised we are neighbours and both have quite a huge presence on Twitter."

And with that in mind, #TOT President Mr Boshe has tweeted the appointment of a Kenyan ambassador to Tanzania:

And Tanzanian ambassador to Kenya:

For other appointments, including the chief chemist, check the hashtag #NyadhfaNyingine which means "other positions" in Swahili.

A row has broken out while opposition EFF leader Julius Malema was speaking.

An ANC MP wanted to interrupt him and he first refused to sit down.

He was then persuaded to give way.

There have been complaints that MPs are using rude language to refer to each other.