(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Dear (Berlin-based) Readers,

I am happy and very excited to announce a lecture that I will be giving entitled ‘Africa and the International Criminal Court — Building Bridges and Reaching Comprise’. The event will take place at the WZB in Berlin on 17 May at 18:00. I will be presenting findings from a research and policy paper on the Africa-ICC relationship that I have written in collaboration with colleagues at the Wayamo Foundation. Here are the details:

Africa and the International Criminal Court — Building Bridges and Reaching Comprise 

According to many observers African states and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are at loggerheads. Government leaders have derided the ICC as racist and neo-colonial in its pursuit of justice. A number of states have stated their intention to withdraw from the Court and one, Burundi, withdrew from the ICC in October 2017. At the same time, African communities affected by conflict have raised concerns about the impacts of the ICC and the apparent gap between the institution’s promise and what it can deliver. In such trying times many urgent questions arise: What is the future of the ICC-Africa relationship? What drives the antagonism of certain African states and communities towards the Court? What can be done to build bridges and reach compromises that enhance the ICC’s relationship with Africa whilst simultaneously strengthening the project of international justice?

If you are in (or near!) Berlin, please come join us. It would be great to see you — or see you again!

Mark