Editor's note

The World Day for International Justice will be marked today as part of efforts by the United Nations to recognise an emerging system of international criminal justice. For Africa, these efforts are currently framed by a turbulent relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the continent.

One intriguing question is why some African leaders have taken an ambiguous stand towards the ICC – at times seeking the court’s involvement in internal affairs, at others condemning it for its work. Marco Bocchese unpacks the contradictory stances and provides answers to what lies behind them.

The ICC has been through a rough patch, suffering a string of acquittals and waning public confidence. In the light of this, the recent conviction of Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda represents real progress, argues Kerstin Carlson, setting out why it is a significant victory for international criminal justice.

Julius Maina

Regional Editor East Africa

Top Stories

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo attends a confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. EPA/Michael Kooren

Flirting with fire: African leaders and international law

Marco Bocchese, University of Illinois at Chicago

African leaders who have sought ICC involvement have all seen the court as being beneficial to the survival of their governments.

Congolese Bosco Ntaganda in the courtroom during the closing statements of his trial in The Hague. EPA-EFE/Bas Czerwinski

Why the Ntaganda judgment shows that the ICC has found its footing

Kerstin Carlson, University of Southern Denmark

Ntaganda's conviction represents real progress, and an actual significant victory, for the ICC.

Education

A review of Kenya’s universities: what formed them, what’s wrong with them

Michael Kithinji, University of Central Arkansas

Factors behind the hits and missed of the higher education sector in Kenya and East Africa. What need to be done to fix address the problems.

Can free schools in South Africa reduce HIV risk?

Franziska Meinck, University of Oxford

Adolescent girls experience a number of vulnerabilities which incease their risk of engaging in risky sexual behaviours.

En français

Corne de l’Afrique : l’amour ne dure qu’un an ?

Sonia Le Gouriellec, Sciences Po – USPC

Une période de transition s’est ouverte, en parallèle de ce processus régional de paix, pour chacun des régimes de la région, crispés par les événements au Soudan et en Algérie.

Un festival de black metal… au Botswana

Fabrice Raffin, Auteurs fondateurs The Conversation France

Au Bostwana, la musique metal se vit « façon longues vestes en cuir à franges et chapeau de cow-boys ».

From our international editions

What Canada and South Africa can teach the U.S. about slavery reparations

Bonny Ibhawoh, McMaster University

Reparation opponents who oppose truth and reconciliation by insisting that America’s “original sin” of slavery is in the distant past should heed the lessons of Canada and South Africa.

Teeth ‘time capsule’ reveals that 2 million years ago, early humans breastfed for up to 6 years

Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Southern Cross University; Ian Moffat, Flinders University; Justin W. Adams, Monash University; Luca Fiorenza, Monash University

A new study shows the enigmatic hominin species Australopithecus africanus may have breastfed young for around 5-6 years – a very costly practice for the mother.

The British government is failing pupils with special needs – here’s how to change that

Mel Ainscow, University of Manchester

When it comes to inclusive education, England has gone backwards, with more and more students placed in segregated provision or excluded from educational opportunities.

As flood risks increase across the US, it’s time to recognize the limits of levees

Amahia Mallea, Drake University

At a time when storms are becoming more frequent and severe, relying on levees for flood control can create as many problems as it solves.

 
 
 
 

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