On International Justice Day, Sputnik Africa discussed concerns about the injustices faced by African countries within the current international framework.
Adamu Garba II, chieftain of Nigeria's ruling All Progressive Congress and former presidential aspirant, highlighted the double standards employed by the ICC.
“That law could only take effect when it affects an African head of state, or an African leader or an African senior person, but it never takes effect when it comes from someone that is in Western Europe,” he told Sputnik Africa.
According to Garba, this reinforces the perception of the ICC as a tool for Western interests rather than a truly international justice system.
“If truly that International Justice Day is going to be held then the United States and all other members of the international justice system need to come together to actually bring all members to the table so that it can be an international system. But as it is, it is not an international system. It is the US institution that is used to hunt international community that goes contrary to the interests of the United States,” the politician argued.
Similar concerns were voiced by Dr. John-Mark Iyi, Associate Professor and Director of the African Center for Transnational Criminal Justice at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He argued that the existing international legal order was designed to serve the interests of the West. It perpetuates the exploitation of Africa.
“It was designed basically to serve the interest of exploitation, especially of Africa,” he told Sputnik Africa. “The colonial master departed, but the institutions put in place metamorphosed, or rather transformed, into new ways in which this exploitation and subjugation of Africa and Africans continue to manifest themselves.”
Dr. Iyi also called for the dismantling of “judicial imperialism” and the inclusion of African voices in shaping the global legal framework.