Beyond Nuremberg's Shadow: Africa's Modern Quest for Legal and Financial Autonomy

This episode explores the key precedents set at the Nuremberg Trials, held in Nuremberg, Germany, from 1945 to 1946 and features an intriguing discussion with Teddy Odira, a Kenyan legal researcher and policy analyst, about how Africans, can reclaim the spirit of Nuremberg to confront the past, hold their own perpetrators accountable, and build a future where global justice is not a privilege for the powerful, but a right for all.

“It [Nuremberg Trials] laid groundwork for challenging colonial and postcolonial atrocities, even though the actual accountability has never been seen and that's been selective all over the world. The new legacy that was brought up with this case was inspirational to Africans, but also a reminder that unfinished tasks of global justice, particularly in the Global South, still lacks in the international arena [...] But for Africa, these ideas resonate deeply with liberation movements fighting colonial oppressions, apartheid, fighting enslavement, even more modern-day economic enslavement [...] I would say that the international legal architecture must move away from that Eurocentric origin and embrace more popular or legal traditions and values or even justice mechanisms found in Africa and elsewhere [...] Africa can assert responsibility for justice by strengthening regional courts and accountability mechanisms. What regional courts will do is make us at least not dependent on a lot of Western influenced courts, it would be a decision by the African man, for the African man, of the African man. It's the same way democracy is supposed to happen, justice is supposed to happen. It is time for us to empower African voices pursuing historical injustice,” the lawyer indicated.

In a parallel discussion, Professor Macharia Munene, Professor of History and International Relations, United States International University, Nairobi, dissected the recent warnings from the International Monetary Fund to Kenya and Ethiopia over their consideration of converting some of their Chinese loans from US dollars to Chinese yuan. According to him, the IMF's concern is less about the economic welfare of African nations and more about the preservation of US hegemony.

“The possible conversion of loans from dollar to the Chinese Yuan could set an example for other countries to follow who may also be in debt in dollar terms, and they would want a way out. So that in itself is not very healthy to the international financial institutions that depend on people having loans or countries having loans and to be paid in the US dollars [...] De-Dollarization would tend to bring the Global South, countries in the Global South closer in terms of articulation and collaboration on matters of trade, investment, and even diplomatic engagement. The influence or the power of the United States would be thereby diminished economically and with more freedom to other countries apart from the conceptual West. So it might mean more and more freedom of operations in international affairs than what may be going on today [...] The increase of the choices is an empowerment process that many countries would want to have, and a country like Kenya or Ethiopia would be making the right direction,” the professor pointed out.

The expert also framed the choice of currency not as a mere financial technicality, but as a profound act of sovereignty.

This episode also features:

Dr. Kwesi Pratt, a member of the organizing committee of the Pan-African Progressive Front

Tune in to listen to the full conversation with our guests on the Pan African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.

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