Most African Countries Still Trust the ICC, Despite a New Wave of Withdrawals
With Chad becoming the latest African state to turn its back on the International Criminal Court, the tribunal faces a new test of its standing across the continent. Yet despite a growing chorus of departures, the majority of African countries continue to back the Hague-based court, according to AllAfrica, reporting on DW analysis of the institution’s flag membership.
The ICC, established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, has historically drawn a significant share of its caseload from Africa. Investigations opened by the court’s prosecutors have touched countries including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Libya and Mali, and the Africa-heavy docket has long drawn criticism from African leaders who accuse the court of targeting the continent disproportionately.
Chad’s withdrawal, AllAfrica reported, comes after the earlier exits of three junta-led Sahelian states — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Burundi was the first African nation to formally leave the court. The departing governments have framed their decisions as acts of sovereignty, rejecting what they describe as externally driven judicial interference, and have pointed to the broader push for greater African autonomy in peace and security matters championed by the African Union.
Most African governments, however, have remained inside the Rome Statute system. For them, the ICC offers a court of last resort in cases where national judiciaries are unable or unwilling to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Civil society organisations, survivors’ networks and several regional bodies have also pressed capitals to stay, arguing that exit would weaken the protection of victims.
The divergence between the Sahelian breakaways and the larger bloc of African states underlines the unresolved tension between sovereignty and international accountability that continues to shape the court’s relationship with the continent.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
