Africa has 34 signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that set up the court The African Union has called for the mass withdrawal of member states from the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, the resolution is non-binding, with Nigeria and Senegal opposing a withdrawal. South Africa and Burundi have already decided to withdraw, accusing … Read more
Never again, was the solemn pledge that the civilized world made to humanity after the genocide of the Jews in the Second World War that shocked the conscience of humanity. That pledge did not stop France which was humiliated during the Second World War and the collective madness that confronted and afflicted humanity to perpetrate … Read more
For centuries, the Bible has come under sustained attacks from all angles: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and pseudo-Christians, and yet, the Bible remains a solid and formidable anvil that bends all hammers of criticism. Yesterday, I read a journalistic article, published by Modernghana, under the above heading by Jean Gasho that sought to indict Africans for … Read more
The United Nations General Assembly has voted to establish a special team to “collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence” as well as to prepare cases on war crimes and human rights abuses committed during the conflict in Syria. The General Assembly adopted a Liechtenstein-drafted resolution to establish the independent team with 105 in favour, 15 … Read more
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda on Tuesday scolded the United Nations for failing to take action in the case of Sudan’s president, whom the ICC is seeking to arrest on charges of genocide. In response, Egypt’s delegate to the United Nations Security Council rejected the prosecutor’s complaints and cited the African Union … Read more
The first former child soldier to appear at the International Criminal Court has pleaded not guilty and told judges he was a victim too. Lords Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen said the LRA was responsible and he had also suffered from the atrocities. Ongwen, now in his early 40s, was a boy when he … Read more
A human rights lawyer and lecturer at the Queens University, Belfast School of Law in the UK, Dr Yassin Brunger, wants individual countries to be responsible for the adjudication of violations committed within their territories and not always look up to the International Criminal Court ICC. Speaking at a side event at the 15th Session … Read more
The long threatened abandonment of the ICC by Africa is under way. Burundi, South Africa and Gambia have announced that they are leaving, with more departures expected. According to African leaders, the court has unfairly targeted African leaders and has not shown respect for the dignity of African leaders. They cite, amongst other things the … Read more
Until last week, no country had withdrawn from the International Criminal Court. Now, three African states — South Africa, Burundi and Gambia — have made official decisions to leave. Gambia announced its decision late Tuesday. Concerns are high that more African countries now will act on years of threats to pull out amid accusations that … Read more
South Africa’s main opposition party has filed papers with the Constitutional Court to challenge the government’s decision to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it said on Monday. South Africa will become the first country to quit the Hague-based court next year, after formally declaring its departure last week, saying ICC membership conflicted … Read more
South Africa has formally begun the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), media reports say. They say diplomats have notified the UN of the move, accusing the ICC of bias against African countries. Last year, South Africa refused to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC on charges … Read more
The International Criminal Court (ICC) which was established under a multilateral treaty called the “Rome Statute” (which was adopted on 17 July 1998 and entered into force on 1 July, 2002) is based in The Hague, Holland. It has 124 members. Unfortunately, the ICC does not enjoy much support in enlightened circles in Africa. This … Read more