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ICC-Linked Officials Reportedly Land in Nairobi Amid Tanzania Election Violence Probe

NAIROBI — A team of officials connected to the International Criminal Court has quietly arrived in Kenya this week, according to credible reports from regional analysts, in what could signal an investigation into the deadly post-election violence that rocked neighbouring Tanzania last month.

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Kenyan commentator Cyprian Nyakundi disclosed the development on social media Friday, noting that the ICC typically operates discreetly during initial field assessments and often uses neighbouring countries as operational bases when gathering preliminary information.

Modus Operandi: Quiet Entry, Regional Staging

“The ICC rarely announces initial field movements, and they often route through neighbouring countries when assessing early information,” Nyakundi explained in his post on X, formerly Twitter.

The timing of the reported arrival coincides with growing international scrutiny of Tanzania’s October 29 general election, which was marred by violence that left multiple people dead and resulted in more than 600 arrests on treason charges.

According to Nyakundi, ICC investigators typically avoid immediate entry into countries under scrutiny, instead leveraging existing networks already on the ground.

“They rely heavily on human rights networks and partner organisations already operating in the country of interest, so they do not need to enter the country immediately to begin building a brief,” he noted.

What Comes Next

If confirmed, the presence of ICC-linked officials in the region would trigger a standard preliminary examination process. Nyakundi outlined the procedural steps that would follow:

The team would compile preliminary findings from various sources, including human rights organisations and witness testimonies. They would then formally request official comments from the Tanzanian government before issuing a comprehensive report with recommendations and potential accountability measures.

The development comes just one day after Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan pardoned hundreds of young protesters who faced treason charges, citing biblical scripture in her appeal for national reconciliation.

However, human rights groups have called for accountability over the deaths and injuries sustained during the violence, with some alleging excessive use of force by security personnel.

ICC Jurisdiction and Tanzania

Tanzania is a state party to the Rome Statute, having ratified the treaty establishing the ICC in 2002. This means the court has jurisdiction to investigate crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide committed on Tanzanian territory or by Tanzanian nationals.

The ICC has not issued any official statement regarding the reported presence of its officials in Kenya, and the Tanzanian government has not commented on the matter.