Khan, DP Ruto’s former lawyer officially assumes post of ICC Prosecutor next week

The newly-elected Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Asad Ahmad Khan QC will be sworn in on 16 June 2021.

Khan, who represented Deputy President William Ruto in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the 2007/2008 post-election violence, is taking over from the current Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who is leaving office after nine years in the job.

A swearing-in ceremony for the new Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Karim Asad Ahmad Khan QC, will be held on Wednesday 16 June 2021, in The Hague, The Netherlands.

“Mr Khan, a national of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was elected as ICC Prosecutor on 12 February 2021, for a nine-year term, at the second resumed nineteenth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (“ASP”) in New York.” The court said in a statement.

According to ICC, Khan will take a public oath of office declaring:

“I solemnly undertake that I will perform my duties and exercise my powers as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously, and that I will respect the confidentiality of investigations and prosecutions”.

H.E. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the ASP, and Judge Piotr Hofma?ski, President of the Court, will also deliver remarks at the Ceremony.

Khan was elected by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute on 12 February this year to serve as the next ICC Prosecutor.

Bensouda welcomed Khan’s successful candidacy noting that the UK lawyer “brings with him a wealth of experience and acumen to lead the Office of the Prosecutor.”

“With the full support of my team, I am committed to ensuring that our colleague, Mr Khan, is in the best position to assume the Office’s crucial mandate when he takes office on the 16th of June.” She said