International criminal justice and Africa

The entry into force of the Rome Statute on July 1, 2002 raised great hopes in the fight against impunity. But the international community's determination to do so came up against Africa's, which noted that this international criminal law called into question diplomatic and jurisdictional immunities, the foundations of classic international law. The universal jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court gives the Prosecutor the right to prosecute all alleged perpetrators, whatever their official status. A shield of ideological criticism has been erected against this form of universal justice, due to the prosecution of active African heads of state. The rejection of this international justice is increasingly proclaimed by African leaders within their international bodies. We are all concerned about the future of this new form of justice, and the rights of victims.