Comments on: Is the International Criminal Court unfair to Africa?

By: Nonkululeko

Nonkululeko — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:53:52 +0000

I tend to agree with Samuel, when he says that perhaps the fact that African nation’s representation in the ICC is a reflection on our need to right the wrongs. I won’t be deluded and say that Africa does not have these problems but I will say that we have been largely misrepresented. One cannot generalize about Africa, Richard Dowden make a good point in saying that for every generalization that is made about Africa, five countries fall away. Instead of looking at this in a negative way by asserting that Africa is indeed the lost continent we should actually be proud that we acknowledge the problems that we have and we are finding ways to mitigate them. In short, no I do not think it is a true reflection of the continents problems, in fact I think it is more a reflection of the countries need to change what is believed to be the status quo in Africa.

By: Nduka Tolefe

Nduka Tolefe — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:52:25 +0000

The ICC is a waste of space with its selective justice. Bush and Blair should have been hurled before this dysfunctional and useless court if it wants to be taken seriously.

By: Vinti

Vinti — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:37:37 +0000

I WANT TO TRY AND BE OPEN MINDED HERE.THE MAIN QUESTION IS WHO STANDS TO GAIN MOST IF THE ICC REALLY HAS STRONG CASES AGAINST THESE ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS?IT IS US AFRICANS!!I DON’T CARE IF THE AMERICANS OR EUROPEANS ARE NOT INDICTED.IF THEY HAVE COMMITED ATROCITIES THEN IF NOT SOON THEN LATER THE LAW WILL CATCH UP WITH THEM.THE ONE MAJOR DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES AFRICA LOOK VERY BADCOMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AND AMERICA IS THAT THESE COUNTRIES LEADERS DON’T SEND THEIR ARMIES AND POLICE AND MILITIAS TO MURDER,MAIM AND RAPE THEIR OWN PEOPLE.GRANTED YOU MAY HEAR OF PEOPLE BEING ELIMINATED BUT NOT ON THE SCALE OF SUDAN’S DARFUR OR DRC OR THE 80′sIN ZIMBABWE DURING THE GUKURAHUNDI ERA.WHEN YOU SEE A PRESIDENT LEAVING HIS PEOPLE AT THE MERCY OF LAWLESS ARMIES OR POLICE THEN QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED OF THE CREDIBILITY OF THAT PRESIDENT.ONE THING THAT I HAVE NOTED WITH THESE AFRICAN PRESIDENTSIS THAT WHEN THEY COME INTO POWER THEY HAVE THE MASSES AT HEART BUT THEY ARE QUICKLY CORRUPTED BY POWER AND FORGET THE MASSES THAT PUT THEM THERE.THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE QUESTIONED AND THEIR WORD IS LAW.ANYONE WHO DARES TO QUESTION THEIR LEADERSHIP IS A TRAITOR.I AM A BLACK MAN LIVING IN ZIMBABWE AND IT IS MY WELL CONSIDERED VIEW THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW LEADERS IN AFRICA,AFRICAN PRESIDENTS ARE ALMOST INVARIABLY BAD LEADERS.

By: Samuel

Samuel — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:46:40 +0000

We Africans are hungry for justice and that is why Africa is the most represented in ICC. But we want international justice, not white western justice that ignores leaders and generals of the US, Israel and others in the West whose actions have led to death of millions (in like Iraq, latin america, palestine, southeast asia etc) over the decades. For many Africans today, ICC is just another western tool. Otherwise, most of us Africans support criminal charges on Sudan president, IF the rebel leaders who have equally been guilty can be brought to justice, to balanced justice. But such balanced justice would destroy the bashir demonization agenda of the WEST and their oil agenda that motivated the genocide fairytales of CIA. To make it even more complex, such balanced justice would create the famous LRA catch-22 scenario and peace talks will fall and Darfur will burn more. So these are the dilemmas facing African leaders on the ICC issue. it is complex.

By: Ken Alston

Ken Alston — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:28:45 +0000

The fact that only four cases are currently being considered surprises me. The most noticeable absentee from the list is Robert Mugabe… a rogue of close to 30 years who has systematically destroyed Zimbabwe, taken lavish holiday trips which allowed his wife to engage in spending way in excess of probably 10 years salary of the middle class Zimbabwian… forget out the poor. What about the massacre of 20000+ in 1981/82, the destruction of the entire agriculture… this rogue should be TOP of the list for trial, conviction and his remaining days of life in some forsaken prison on a island far removed from Africa… and many will say that is FAR TOO GOOD for him!!