Justice For All ? The International Crime Court

With 33 African countries among its 123 member states, the ICC holds jurisdiction over four major crime categories: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. In this video, we explore the complex relationship between the International Criminal Court and African states. Criticisms of the court’s alleged bias against African nations have sparked intense debate and had the African Union call for African states to withdraw from the ICC, citing unfair targeting and neo-colonialism. Prominent figures, including former Presidents Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, and incumbent President William Ruto, are among those charged with crimes against humanity. Since 2002, the ICC has completed 31 cases, but only individuals from African countries have been convicted. Despite instances of alleged war crimes and acts of aggression committed by countries such as the US and the UK in Iraq and Afghanistan, no prosecutions have been carried out by the International Criminal Court, including against former heads of state like George Bush and Tony Blair. In this video, Chris Maroleng, Executive Director of Good Governance Africa, explores the multifaceted implications for South Africa, which faces the obligation to detain Russian President Vladimir Putin during the upcoming BRICS summit hosted by the country. Maroleng discusses the complex interplay between future economic considerations, diplomatic relations, and South Africa’s compliance as an ICC member state, highlighting the competing interests at stake.