The Intelligence from The Economist The snails of justice: the International Criminal Court
Feb 17, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Richard Cockett, a Senior editor at The Economist and expert on Sudanese politics, explores the International Criminal Court's credibility amid Sudan's transitional government pledging to hand over former leader Omar al-Bashir for prosecution. He delves into al-Bashir's legacy of terror in Darfur and the broader challenges of international justice. The conversation also touches on Norway's paradox of being a green energy front-runner while still reliant on oil, and Los Angeles' struggles to reshape its transportation landscape.
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Bashir's Evasion
- Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's former president, was indicted by the ICC for war crimes and genocide in Darfur.
- Despite this, he traveled freely for 10 years, highlighting the ICC's limited power.
ICC Jurisdiction and Limitations
- The ICC can try individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, but lacks its own police force.
- Countries can hand over suspects, or the UN Security Council can direct investigations.
ICC Bias Concerns
- The ICC faces criticism for primarily focusing on African cases, leading to accusations of bias.
- All ICC indictees have been African, fueling this perception.
