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1. Preventing and Responding to Atrocity Crimes in Africa: Interrogating the African Response in Darfur

Author:
Vincent O. Nmehielle
Publication Date:
01-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
African Journal of Legal Studies
Institution:
The Africa Law Institute
Abstract:
There has been much scholarly and public debate regarding whether the ongoing atrocities in Darfur constitute “genocide”. This article posits that, irrespective of the description given to the mass atrocities taking place in the Sudan, there needs to be a more formidable response and intervention by the world community. As part of this, the author examines the African Union (AU) engagement with the Darfur crisis, within the context of Sudan's membership in the AU. Contending that Darfur is the first litmus test of how the AU is different from its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, he argues that Darfuris would only realize the benefits of the new regional body if perpetrators of egregious human rights violations are brought to justice.
Political Geography:
Africa and Sudan

2. Assessing the African Union Concerns about Article 16 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Author:
Dapo Akande, Charles C. Jalloh, and Max du Plessis
Publication Date:
01-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
African Journal of Legal Studies
Institution:
The Africa Law Institute
Abstract:
This article assesses the African Union's (AU) concerns about Article 16 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It seeks to articulate a clearer picture of the law and politics of deferrals within the context of the AU's repeated calls to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC, or the Council) to invoke Article 16 to suspend the processes initiated by the ICC against President Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. The Council's failure to accede to the AU request led African States to formally withhold cooperation from the ICC in respect to the arrest and surrender of the Sudanese leader. Given the AU's continued concerns, and the current impasse, fundamental questions have arisen about the Council's authority to exercise, or not exercise, its deferral power. This culminated into a November 2009 African proposal for an amendment to the Rome Statute to empower the UN General Assembly to act should the UNSC fail to act on a deferral request after six months. Although ICC States Parties have so far shown limited public support for the AU's proposed amendment to the deferral provision, this article examines its merits because a failure to engage the “Article 16 problem” could impact international accountability efforts in the Sudan, and further damage the ICC's credibility in Africa. This unresolved issue also has wider significance given that the matters underlying the tension ‐ how ICC prosecutions may be reconciled with peacemaking initiatives and the role and power of the Council in ICC business ‐ will likely arise in future situations from around the world.
Topic:
United Nations
Political Geography:
Africa and Sudan