A Strained Relationship: Reflections on the African Union’s Stand Towards the International Criminal Court from the Kenyan Experience

Abstract
This chapter comments on the current stand of the African Union towards the International Criminal Court, and on the AU’s position regarding the prosecution of incumbent African Heads of state before the Court. It analyzes how the African political elite, ordinary citizens and victims of crimes under international law view the International Criminal Court. In both cases Kenya is the main point of reference, because it has been in the center of the most recent critical positions taken by the African Union. Ultimately, it is shown that the current views of the AU Assembly about the International Criminal Court are not necessarily the views of Africans in general, and that the Court remains a relevant institution for Africa today as it was when it was established.
Description
Full text can be accessed at http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-6265-029-9_13
Keywords
International Criminal Court, African Union, Immunity, Victims of crimes under International Law, Heads of State, Kenya, Kenyatta, Ruto
Citation
Materu, S.F., 2014. A Strained Relationship: Reflections on the African Union’s Stand Towards the International Criminal Court from the Kenyan Experience. In Africa and the International Criminal Court (pp. 211-228). TMC Asser Press.