The Idea of ICC targeting African Presidents is propaganda

By Abdoulie John
Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, has dismissed the idea that the ICC is targeting African presidents, describing it as “propaganda”. “What has happened is propaganda. Propaganda has happened since the Beshir warrant was issued. On the contrary, people need to know that the people who are killed in Africa are African victims, and the ICC is the voice for African victims,” she categorically stated. She told the author of this article that in all of the situations that the ICC is involved in concerning Africa were done upon invitation by African governments. “In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), they referred the case of Jean Pierre Mbemba to the ICC for investigation. Similarly, in the Uganda case of Joseph Koni, it was the government of Uganda that invited the ICC. What should the ICC do? To say no, we cannot come and work with you?” she finally asked exasperated. The ICC Deputy Prosecutor also seized the opportunity to emphasize that no effort should be spared in bringing to justice the perpetrators of mass killings, noting that peace can only last if it is linked with justice.
It could be recalled that on March 4, President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan became the first sitting head of state to be indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the fledgling International Criminal Court. He joined Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia, Charles Taylor of Liberia, and former Prime Minister Jean Kambanda of Rwanda as heads of state subject to international justice for their crimes. The fact that Al-Bashir is being prosecuted internationally has raised concerns amongst the African Heads of States’ syndicate, but the indictment alone represents a moral victory and an important milestone in the movement for international justice. In the era of globalism, justice without borders seems to be a salutary alternative for peoples that are subject to dictatorial regimes…