Researcher and author of several books on African affairs, Dr. David Hoile, in his study entitled, ‘The International Criminal Court: Europe’s Guantanamo Bay?’ described the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) as a new European attempt to re-colonize Africa.
“A hundred and twenty years later Europe appears to still be trying to steal both Africa and Africans,” Dr. Hoile wrote in his book.
“They are now using their new creation, the International Criminal Court, to steal Africans from Africa to put on show-trials in Western Europe. This has been seen as a means of destabilizing African continent – something which then makes the political domination of Africa and the subsequent exploitation of African minerals and resources that much easier.”
The British author introduced two of his books in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday January 30, 2014 during the 22ndSummit of African Heads of State and Government, many of whom at loggerheads with the ICC.
Dr. Hoile’s new book, ‘Justice Denied: The Reality of the International Criminal Court’ is expected to be published in March this year.
The author says even though the ICC Prosecutor received over 8,300 referrals regarding crimes against humanity and related issues from more than 130 countries, as of 2013 the Prosecutor only opened investigations in eight African countries – Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Mali and Libya.
“Not a single non-African country has been indicted, despite well-documented allegations of European war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq,” the author says.
Following the indictment of Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in 2013, the issue of the ICC and its relationship with Africa has been at the top of the AU’s agenda. In October 2013 the AU held a special Summit of African Heads of State and Government and passed a resolution denouncing the court.
The ICC is established in 1998 after 122 countries become Parties to the Rome Statute. With 34 states, Africa constitutes the single largest membership to the Court. Asia-Pacific States and Eastern Europe both have 18 member states. While Latin America and Caribbean States and Western Europe each have 27 and 25 member states respectively.
Dr. David Hoile is a British academic and public affairs consultant specializing in African affairs. He is the author of several books focusing on African politics and external relations.
Caption: Author David Hoile during his visit to the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa on Jan. 30th 2014
Photo: Andualem Sisay
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