The ICC's favourite customer : Africa and international criminal law

Proponents of International Criminal Law (ICL) argue that establishing international criminal courts would deter government officials and warlords from committing grave crimes against humanity, achieve justice and facilitate peace making in countries torn by crisis. This article tests the above theory by surveying of the practice of international criminal law in Africa. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, as well as attempts by several African states to implement the Rome Statute or take advantage of its complementarity jurisdiction provide a context for assessing the value of ICL. This article concludes that while ICL has brought a number of war criminals and genocidiaries to justice in Africa, its prospects for peace, justice and deterrence remain elusive.