Emerging International Criminal Justice Developments in Africa: Prospects and Challenges for African Peace and Security Architecture

The document reports on a September 2008 seminar discussing how international criminal justice, anchored by the ICC, interacts with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Participants debated the 'peace-justice nexus,' arguing that while tensions can exist, retributive and restorative justice should be pursued simultaneously to remove threats to security. The discussions highlighted that the ICC can provide a 'win-win dividend' for APSA by addressing institutional deficiencies in the 'African solutions to African problems' approach, serving as a non-violent alternative to the use of force.

• The relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Africa is described as mutually reinforcing, with some African countries viewing the ICC as a solution to internal problems, despite claims of one-sided application of international law.
• There is a critical debate regarding the 'peace-justice nexus,' with arguments that peace and justice are complementary and should be pursued simultaneously, even though tensions between the two are sometimes inevitable.
• International criminal justice developments are seen as a way to supplement the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), particularly where 'African solutions to African problems' fail due to institutional gaps.
• The work of the ICC and special courts is presented as a powerful, non-violent alternative to military force that adds synergy to continental security efforts.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2008). Emerging International Criminal Justice Developments in Africa: Prospects and Challenges for African Peace and Security Architecture. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/300908SEMREP.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Emerging International Criminal Justice Developments in Africa: Prospects and Challenges for African Peace and Security Architecture. 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/300908SEMREP.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Emerging International Criminal Justice Developments in Africa: Prospects and Challenges for African Peace and Security Architecture |date=30 September 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/300908SEMREP.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2008emerging, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Emerging International Criminal Justice Developments in Africa: Prospects and Challenges for African Peace and Security Architecture}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/300908SEMREP.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }