By ADAM NOSSITER and MARLISE SIMONS
JULY 2, 2014
DAKAR, Senegal — African leaders have voted to give themselves immunity from prosecution for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in an African human rights court that does not yet exist, angering rights groups and puzzling activists on the continent.
At an African Union summit held last week in Equatorial Guinea, a country often cited as one of Africa’s worst rights violators, heads of state and government decided that the African Court of Justice and Human Rights would have no power to hear cases against them.
The court was formally created by the African Union six years ago, but it is not yet in operation, and it is not clear when it will be.
The leaders at the summit last week also expanded the court’s scope: What was originally a civil tribunal for hearing human rights complaints will now be a full-fledged criminal court with authority to deal with the most serious crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity and piracy.
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