Africa must seek justice for victims of international crimes than protection for perpetrators – ACILA

The Executive Director of research and education think tank, Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), has called for the reframing of international criminal justice issues in Africa to focus more on securing justice for victims instead of protection for alleged perpetrators.

William Nyarko says the current debate from African countries threatening to withdraw from the International Criminal Court(ICC) because the court has been prosecuting mostly African leaders demonstrates a focus on offering protection for alleged perpetrators.

He wants African leaders to focus on seeking justice for victims of international crimes instead of seeking protection for alleged perpetrators.

Mr. Nyarko was responding to an ICC-related accountability question at a 3-day investigative journalism training workshop for 30 media practitioners in Accra.

The workshop is jointly organized by ACILA and Tiger Eye Media.

According to Mr. Nyarko, victims are often powerless against perpetrators who wield unbridled power and commit international crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, against victims with impunity.

“Whenever an international crime is committed in Africa and a perpetrator is not prosecuted at home or by the ICC, it is victims and their families that suffer. Shielding perpetrators either through immunity provisions or because they are powerful state officials perpetuates impunity and this must stop”, he emphasized.

On the perceived targeting of African leaders by the ICC, he said the ICC only considers an investigation and prosecution if a state party is unwilling or unable to prosecute an international crime, adding that the ICC will not step in if African states are willing to prosecute their own citizens for international crimes.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin said African leaders or warlords are not the only ones facing criminal trials for alleged violations of international criminal law.

He explained countries that have ratified the ICC Rome Statute but whose citizens have not appeared before the ICC have robust criminal justice systems that they use to prosecute their citizens at home when they commit international crimes.