Double standards in the prosecution of individuals within the international justice system can be traced back to the lack of African nations' participation during its creation, Adamu Garba II, chieftain of Nigeria's ruling All Progressive Congress and former presidential aspirant, tells Global South Pole.
“In the first place that [the International] Court [of Justice] was established without any African at the table after 1945, most African countries [were] still vassals of the Berlin conference. [...] So how can you establish a system that you feel like can protect the interests of Africa?” he questions.
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, echoes the same sentiments. He states that for centuries, the people of the continent have suffered from numerous crimes that were never properly addressed. Consequently, the institutions established were never intended to deliver justice to the African populace.
“If you look at the way the international legal system or the international legal order was constructed, it was constructed as two scholars will make you understand. It was designed basically to serve the interest of the exploitation, especially of Africa, whether it is slavery, or it is neo-colonization […] continuation of exploitation of manpower and resources of Africa and the global south,” he stresses.
In conclusion, the Nigerian politician emphasizes that Africa must abandon colonial-era institutions and unite under new leadership driven by Pan-Africanism to effectively address its challenges and protect its sovereignty. Meanwhile, Dr. Iyi emphasizes that justice institutions should reflect diverse perspectives, not just Western notions of justice.
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