The International Criminal Court yesterday announced that Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang has taken over as the lead prosecutor in the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
He replaces Karim Khan, who has voluntarily stepped aside temporarily as a United Nations investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct nears its conclusion.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC confirmed that while Khan is on a leave of absence, Niang, together with Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan, will assume “leadership, management and administration of the Office.”
“The Deputy Prosecutors underline the importance of ensuring continuity of the Office’s activities across all areas of work, and particularly in its mission to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes with independence and impartiality,” the Office of the Prosecutor said.
“The Office reaffirms its commitment to the continued effective implementation of its mandate to deliver justice for victims of Rome Statute crimes, across all situations and cases globally,” it added.
The ICC also confirmed that Niang will now lead the case involving Duterte, who is being investigated for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s war on drugs.
In response to a Manila Standard query, the OTP said it is committed to the continued effective implementation of its mandate to deliver justice for victims of Rome Statute crimes, across all situations and cases globally.
The Office underlines the importance of ensuring continuity of its activities across all areas of work, and particularly in its mission to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes with independence and impartiality, it added.
According to the ICC website, Niang is the current Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, elected in December 2021 and sworn in by March 2022.
A seasoned legal professional from Senegal, he has held senior positions in his country’s judiciary and brings significant international experience, having worked with the United Nations, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Niang takes over as lead prosecutor in Duterte ICC case.”