1 - The International Criminal Court, Justice, Peace and the Fight against Impunity in Africa: An Overview
Corresponding Author(s) : André Mbata Mangu
Africa Development,
Vol. 40 No. 2 (2015): Africa Development: Special Issue on International Criminal Justice
Abstract
The year 2013 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity that was replaced with the African Union (AU). It coincided with a great deal of criticism against the International Criminal Court (ICC) by AU member states that were yet instrumental in its creation and referred most of its cases. Using a combined international law and a political science approach, this article aims to contribute to the debate that has been raging on the ICC since it indicted some African leaders. It holds that although much of the criticism is unfounded, the ICC should gain in terms of legitimacy by improving its operations as an impartial court not subjected to the superpowers within the UN Security Council. Instead of withdrawing from the Rome Statute, African States should also comply with their obligations and cooperate with the ICC from which the majority of their people still expect so much. Based on its human rights record, this article argues that the AU’s attempt to bypass the ICC by establishing an international criminal law section mandated to deal with international crimes within the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is unlikely to end impunity and promote peace on the continent.
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- Amnesty International, 2007, ‘Rwanda: suspects must not be transferred to Rwandan courts for trial until it is demonstrated that trials will comply with international standards of justice’. AI Index: AFR 47/013/2007.
- Bakum, J.M., 2014,‘International justice: the international criminal court and Africa’. [n.p.]
- Cassese, A., 2007–2008, ‘Clemency versus retribution in post-conflict situations’, Columbia Journal of Transitional Law 46 (1): 1–13.
- Elgizouli, K., 2014, ‘“Sovereignty” no defence against ICC action in Sudan’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/kamal-elgizouli/%E2%80%98sovereignty%E2%80%99-no-defence-against-icc-action-in-sudan, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Eltringham, N., 2004, Accounting for Horror: Post-genocide Debates in Rwanda. London: Pluto Press.
- Fofe Djofia Malewa, J.-P., 2006a, La question de la preuve devant le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda, Paris: L’Harmattan.
- Fofe Djofia Malewa, J.-P., 2006b, La Cour pénale internationale: Institution nécessaire aux pays des Grands Lacs africains, Paris: L’Harmattan.
- Gaparayi, I.T., 2001, ‘Justice and social reconstruction in the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda: the evaluation of the possible role of the Gacaca tribunals’, AHRLJ 1 (1): 78–106.
- Haque, A.A., 2005–2006, ‘Group violence and group vengeance: towards a retributivist theory of international criminal law’, Buffalo Criminal Law Review 9 (1): 273–29.
- Hayner, P., 2014, ‘Does the ICC advance the interests of justice?’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/priscilla-hayner/does-icc-advance-interests-of-justice, accessed 9 February 2014.
- ICC, 2011, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, available at http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/ADD16852-AEE9-4757-ABE7-9CDC7CF02886/283503/RomeStatutEng1.pdf, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Kambale, P., 2014, ‘Justice denied? The ICC’s record in the DRC’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/pascal-kambale/justice-denied-icc%E2%80%99s-record-in-drc, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Kersten, M., 2014, ‘The ICC and its impact: more known unknowns’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/mark-kersten/icc-and-its-impact-more-known-unknowns, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Kimenyi, M.S., 2014, ‘The International Criminal Court in Africa: a failed experiment?’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/mwangi-s-kimenyi/international-criminal-court-in-africa-failed-experiment, accessed 8 February 2014.
- Kindiki, K., 2001, ‘Prosecuting the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda: its basis in international law and the implications for the protection of human rights in Africa’, AHRLJ 1 (1): 64–77.
- Kingsley, M.C., 2002, ‘The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in perspective’, Paper presented at the African Dialogue II Conference on ‘Promoting Justice and Reconciliation in Africa: Challenges for Human Rights and Development’, 24–26 May, available at http://ictr-archive09.library.cornell.edu/ENGLISH/africandialogue/papers/KingsleyII.pdf, accessed 30 October 2012.
- Mbata Mangu, A., 2015, ‘The Bashir Case and Backpedalling on Human rights and the Rule of Law in Post-Mandela South Africa’. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, Vol 2, Nos 1 & 2, 179- 200.
- Mue, N., 2014, ‘The ICC mustn’t give up in Kenya’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/njonjo-mue/icc-mustn%E2%80%99t-give-up-in-kenya, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Mutabazi, E., 2014, ‘The United Nations ad hoc Tribunals’ effectiveness in prosecuting international crimes’, Unpublished LLD Thesis, Pretoria: University of South Africa.
- Nouwen, S., 2014, ‘The politics of impunity little impacted by the ICC’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/sarah-nouwen/politics-of-impunity-little-impacted-by-icc, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Nyabirungu, M.S., 2013, Droit international pénal, Kinshasa: Editions Droit et Société.
- Petrasek, D., 2014, ‘The ICC – breach in the dyke, or high water mark?’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/david-petrasek/icc-%E2%80%93-breach-in-dyke-or-high-water-mark, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Ramanathan, U., 2014, ‘The surprising impact of the Rome Statute in India’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/usha-ramanathan/surprising-impact-of-rome-statute-in-india, accessed 9 February 2014.
- Schabas, W. A., 2011, An Introduction to the International Criminal Court. 4th edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Scharf, P.M., and Schabas, W.A., 2002, Slobodan Milosevich on Trial: A Companion, New York: The Continuum International Publishing Library Group.
- Scharf, P.M. and Schabas, W.A., 2002, Slobodan Milosevich on Trial: A Companion, New York: The Continuum International Publishing Library Group.
- Tejan-Cole, A., 2001, ‘The Special Court of Sierra Leone: conceptual concerns and alternatives’, AHRLJ 1 (1): 107–26.
- The AU Constitutive Act, adopted in Lomé, Togo, on 11 July 2000, available at http://au.int/en/sites/default/files/Constitutive%20Act%20-%20Final.pdf, accessed 10 February 2015.
- The Protocol to the African Charter on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 9 June 1998, available at http://au.int/en/content/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights-establishment-african-court-human-and-peop, accessed 10 February 2015.
- The Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights adopted in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on 1 July 2008, available at http://au.int/en/content/protocol-statute-african-court-justice-and-human-rights, accessed 10 February 2015.
- The Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights during their summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 27 June 2014, available at http://au.int/en/content/protocol-amendments-protocol-statute-african-court-justice-and-human-rights, accessed 10 February 2015.
- The Rome Statute of 17 July 1998 establishing the ICC (A/CONF 183/9).
- The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969.
- UN Charter of 1945UN Security Council Resolution 827 of 25 May 1993 establishing the ICTY to prosecute persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1 January 1991.
- UN Security Council Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 establishing the ICTR to prosecute persons responsible for genocide in Rwanda from 1 January to 31 December 1994.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1315 of 14 August 2000 establishing the SCSL to prosecute persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone since 30 November 1996.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) of 31 March 2005, UN Doc S/RES/1593 (2005).
- Van der Wyver, J.D., 2011, ‘Prosecuting the President of Sudan: a dispute between the African Union and the International Criminal Court’, AHRLJ 11(2): 683–98.
- Waldorf, L. and Haskell, L., 2011, ‘The impunity gap of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda: causes and consequences’. Hastings International and Comparative Law Review 34 (1): 49–85.
- Wippman, D., 1999–2000, ‘Atrocities, deterrence and the limits of international justice’, Fordham International Law Journal 23 (2): 473–88.
- Zolo, D., 2004, ‘Peace though law’, Journal of International Criminal Justice 2 (3): 727–34.
References
Amnesty International, 2007, ‘Rwanda: suspects must not be transferred to Rwandan courts for trial until it is demonstrated that trials will comply with international standards of justice’. AI Index: AFR 47/013/2007.
Bakum, J.M., 2014,‘International justice: the international criminal court and Africa’. [n.p.]
Cassese, A., 2007–2008, ‘Clemency versus retribution in post-conflict situations’, Columbia Journal of Transitional Law 46 (1): 1–13.
Elgizouli, K., 2014, ‘“Sovereignty” no defence against ICC action in Sudan’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/kamal-elgizouli/%E2%80%98sovereignty%E2%80%99-no-defence-against-icc-action-in-sudan, accessed 9 February 2014.
Eltringham, N., 2004, Accounting for Horror: Post-genocide Debates in Rwanda. London: Pluto Press.
Fofe Djofia Malewa, J.-P., 2006a, La question de la preuve devant le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda, Paris: L’Harmattan.
Fofe Djofia Malewa, J.-P., 2006b, La Cour pénale internationale: Institution nécessaire aux pays des Grands Lacs africains, Paris: L’Harmattan.
Gaparayi, I.T., 2001, ‘Justice and social reconstruction in the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda: the evaluation of the possible role of the Gacaca tribunals’, AHRLJ 1 (1): 78–106.
Haque, A.A., 2005–2006, ‘Group violence and group vengeance: towards a retributivist theory of international criminal law’, Buffalo Criminal Law Review 9 (1): 273–29.
Hayner, P., 2014, ‘Does the ICC advance the interests of justice?’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/priscilla-hayner/does-icc-advance-interests-of-justice, accessed 9 February 2014.
ICC, 2011, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, available at http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/ADD16852-AEE9-4757-ABE7-9CDC7CF02886/283503/RomeStatutEng1.pdf, accessed 9 February 2014.
Kambale, P., 2014, ‘Justice denied? The ICC’s record in the DRC’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/pascal-kambale/justice-denied-icc%E2%80%99s-record-in-drc, accessed 9 February 2014.
Kersten, M., 2014, ‘The ICC and its impact: more known unknowns’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/mark-kersten/icc-and-its-impact-more-known-unknowns, accessed 9 February 2014.
Kimenyi, M.S., 2014, ‘The International Criminal Court in Africa: a failed experiment?’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/mwangi-s-kimenyi/international-criminal-court-in-africa-failed-experiment, accessed 8 February 2014.
Kindiki, K., 2001, ‘Prosecuting the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda: its basis in international law and the implications for the protection of human rights in Africa’, AHRLJ 1 (1): 64–77.
Kingsley, M.C., 2002, ‘The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in perspective’, Paper presented at the African Dialogue II Conference on ‘Promoting Justice and Reconciliation in Africa: Challenges for Human Rights and Development’, 24–26 May, available at http://ictr-archive09.library.cornell.edu/ENGLISH/africandialogue/papers/KingsleyII.pdf, accessed 30 October 2012.
Mbata Mangu, A., 2015, ‘The Bashir Case and Backpedalling on Human rights and the Rule of Law in Post-Mandela South Africa’. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, Vol 2, Nos 1 & 2, 179- 200.
Mue, N., 2014, ‘The ICC mustn’t give up in Kenya’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/njonjo-mue/icc-mustn%E2%80%99t-give-up-in-kenya, accessed 9 February 2014.
Mutabazi, E., 2014, ‘The United Nations ad hoc Tribunals’ effectiveness in prosecuting international crimes’, Unpublished LLD Thesis, Pretoria: University of South Africa.
Nouwen, S., 2014, ‘The politics of impunity little impacted by the ICC’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/sarah-nouwen/politics-of-impunity-little-impacted-by-icc, accessed 9 February 2014.
Nyabirungu, M.S., 2013, Droit international pénal, Kinshasa: Editions Droit et Société.
Petrasek, D., 2014, ‘The ICC – breach in the dyke, or high water mark?’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/david-petrasek/icc-%E2%80%93-breach-in-dyke-or-high-water-mark, accessed 9 February 2014.
Ramanathan, U., 2014, ‘The surprising impact of the Rome Statute in India’, Open Democracy, available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/usha-ramanathan/surprising-impact-of-rome-statute-in-india, accessed 9 February 2014.
Schabas, W. A., 2011, An Introduction to the International Criminal Court. 4th edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Scharf, P.M., and Schabas, W.A., 2002, Slobodan Milosevich on Trial: A Companion, New York: The Continuum International Publishing Library Group.
Scharf, P.M. and Schabas, W.A., 2002, Slobodan Milosevich on Trial: A Companion, New York: The Continuum International Publishing Library Group.
Tejan-Cole, A., 2001, ‘The Special Court of Sierra Leone: conceptual concerns and alternatives’, AHRLJ 1 (1): 107–26.
The AU Constitutive Act, adopted in Lomé, Togo, on 11 July 2000, available at http://au.int/en/sites/default/files/Constitutive%20Act%20-%20Final.pdf, accessed 10 February 2015.
The Protocol to the African Charter on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 9 June 1998, available at http://au.int/en/content/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights-establishment-african-court-human-and-peop, accessed 10 February 2015.
The Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights adopted in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on 1 July 2008, available at http://au.int/en/content/protocol-statute-african-court-justice-and-human-rights, accessed 10 February 2015.
The Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights during their summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 27 June 2014, available at http://au.int/en/content/protocol-amendments-protocol-statute-african-court-justice-and-human-rights, accessed 10 February 2015.
The Rome Statute of 17 July 1998 establishing the ICC (A/CONF 183/9).
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969.
UN Charter of 1945UN Security Council Resolution 827 of 25 May 1993 establishing the ICTY to prosecute persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1 January 1991.
UN Security Council Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 establishing the ICTR to prosecute persons responsible for genocide in Rwanda from 1 January to 31 December 1994.
UN Security Council Resolution 1315 of 14 August 2000 establishing the SCSL to prosecute persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone since 30 November 1996.
UN Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) of 31 March 2005, UN Doc S/RES/1593 (2005).
Van der Wyver, J.D., 2011, ‘Prosecuting the President of Sudan: a dispute between the African Union and the International Criminal Court’, AHRLJ 11(2): 683–98.
Waldorf, L. and Haskell, L., 2011, ‘The impunity gap of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda: causes and consequences’. Hastings International and Comparative Law Review 34 (1): 49–85.
Wippman, D., 1999–2000, ‘Atrocities, deterrence and the limits of international justice’, Fordham International Law Journal 23 (2): 473–88.
Zolo, D., 2004, ‘Peace though law’, Journal of International Criminal Justice 2 (3): 727–34.