In an interview recorded in November 2022, Jonas Horner, Independent expert on Sudan, talks about the reasons why the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement failed to bring peace to Sudan and its border regions (the Abyei area, the South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile states). Horner explains some of the unresolved issues that precipitated the South Sudanese rebellion, and analyses the …
On 14 September 2022, Mohamed Chande Othman, former Chairperson of the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability, addressed the Wayamo Foundation-Contraband cultural event in Khartoum, entitled “Kul Al Balad Darfur – exploring complementary avenues for justice and accountability” via video message. In his remarks, Othman talked about justice, accountability, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including respect for the …
Elizabeth Ibanda Nahamya is a judge at the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). She discusses how IRMCT jurisprudence is also being used by domestic jurisdictions in Africa to prosecute and adjudicate international crimes. Judge Nahamya talks about the relationship between the IRMCT, domestic judiciaries, truth and reconciliation commissions, regional and international courts. Along with the challenges …
Susan Okalany is a judge at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court of Uganda. In this interview, she discusses the challenges judges face when adjudicating international crime cases at the ICD. She touches upon the relationship between international and transnational crimes and how linking these two crime sets together can help address violence and atrocity, and contemplates …
Tanya Mehra, Senior Research Fellow and Programme Lead, International Centre for Counter-terrorism, discusses the utility and ongoing challenges of investigating and prosecuting terrorism and international crimes cases. Drawing on her long-standing expertise in the area, Mehra speaks about the importance of linking international crimes and terrorist acts, the necessity of robust legal frameworks permitting states to do so, and the …
Fatou Bensouda, former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), discusses the importance of judicial independence and the rule of law in highly politicised trials. She talks about the challenges she faced as ICC Prosecutor and how she coped with the pressure. She also discusses the impact of the ICC’s jurisprudence on international criminal justice in Africa, the importance of …
Howard Varney, Senior Programme Adviser at the International Centre for Transitional Justice, discusses how apartheid crimes can be prosecuted in local courts in South Africa, and whether apartheid can be tried as a crime against humanity. In addition, he talks about judicial independence, the rule of law, and the future of the adjudication of international criminal cases on the African …
Richard J. Goldstone, Former Justice at South Africa’s Constitutional Court and founding Chief Prosecutor of the ICTR and ICTY, shares his thoughts on the role of the judiciary in defending human rights and the rule of law during apartheid in South Africa. Judge Goldstone also discusses the relationship between the ICC and African states, as well as the future of …
Nigerian Federal High Court Judge Binta Nyako talks about justice and accountability for crimes committed by Boko Haram in Nigeria. She discusses the challenges and difficulties faced when adjudicating these terrorism cases and the lessons learnt for future trials. Justice Nyako also talks about the adjudication of sexual violence crimes allegedly committed by Boko Haram members. The Wayamo Foundation and …
Akua Kuenyehia, former First Vice-President and Judge of the ICC, discusses the importance of judicial independence and the rule of law when adjudicating international crime cases. She talks about the future of the ICC-Africa relationship and what needs to be done to see judicial systems across Africa adjudicating international crimes domestically. The Wayamo Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Rule …
