Category Archives: Africa

In Withdrawal? Africa and the International Criminal Court

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Mark Kersten

With speculation regarding the future of the relationship between African states and the International Criminal Court (ICC) ongoing, I was recently asked by the International Institute for Strategic Studies to pen a longer piece explaining the sources of tensions in the Africa-ICC … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Burundi, Gambia, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, South Africa | Leave a comment

The Clock is Ticking – Keeping South Africa in the ICC is a Tall, but Not Impossible, Order

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Mark Kersten

The clock is ticking. In just about eleven months, South Africa will officially withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Here at the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), though, the overall feeling is optimistic. Many participants, especially those representing civil … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Assembly of States Parties, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, South Africa | 3 Comments

‘We Stay. We Respond’ – A Speech on Africa and the International Criminal Court

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Mark Kersten

The following is a speech delivered by Njonjo Mue to the plenary session of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court. Njonjo is a human rights lawyer and transitional justice expert. He is currently a Senior Advisor … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Assembly of States Parties, Guest Posts, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice | Tagged | Leave a comment

South Africa and Burundi Withdrawals Expose Faults and Fault-Lines in ICC Opposition

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Mark Kersten

It’s now been a few weeks since Burundi and South Africa signalled their intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Barring any changes or decisions to reverse course, by October of next year the number of ICC member-states … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Burundi, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, South Africa | 2 Comments

What the ICC Can Do to Improve its Relationship with African States

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Mark Kersten

Allegations that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is biased against ‘Africa’ are nothing new. They have persisted for nearly a decade now and have only achieved greater salience in the wake of the recent decisions of South Africa, Burundi, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, African Union (AU), International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice | 8 Comments

There is no system of international justice against Africa because there is no system of international justice

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Mark Kersten

Following the twenty-seventh African Union summit, it seems brighter days may lie ahead for the tumultuous relationship between African states and the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the wake of the summit, which took place earlier this month in Kigali, … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, African Union (AU), International Criminal Court (ICC) | 2 Comments

Cutting Through the Noise – The African Group for Justice and Accountability on the ICC-Africa Relationship

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Mark Kersten

The relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and African states is coming under renewed scrutiny at the 27th African Union Summit, currently taking place in Kigali, Rwanda. The outcome of the summit for ICC-African relations will be determined over … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA), African Union (AU), International Criminal Court (ICC) | 1 Comment

Five Take-Aways from the ICC’s Latest Bombshell Report

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Mark Kersten

This year’s Report on Preliminary Examination Activities from the International Criminal Court (ICC) carried within it a number of fascinating – and crucial – details into who and what is falling under the ICC’s microscope. Below are five important takeaways … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Africa, Complementarity, Georgia, Gravity, Honduras, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States | 5 Comments

A Way Forward: An Africa-ICC Expert Panel

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Mark Kersten

In the world of international criminal justice, few issues have received as much attention as the relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and African states and societies. While African constituencies were at the very forefront of pushing for, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Africa-ICC Expert Panel, African Union (AU), Complementarity, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice | Tagged | Leave a comment

Sudan, South Africa and the future of the International Criminal Court in Africa

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Mark Kersten

Many believe Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir is the person most responsible for the alleged genocide in Darfur. As such, he isn’t supposed to travel freely around the world. But this past June, Bashir visited South Africa for an African Union … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, African Union (AU), Darfur, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, International Law, South Africa, Sudan | 8 Comments