The African Criminal Court: Questions of Legality and Legitimacy.

Abstract

In this article, the author investigated the legality and legitimacy of the African Criminal Court. Despite the immunity provision criticized by the international community, its legality is consistent with international law, while it cannot be argued that the African Criminal Court is an African "panacea" for combating impunity for serious international crimes. The initial support of the International Criminal Court by the African Union and its member States in the process of creation turned into strained relations after the indictment of the International Criminal Courts mainly against high-ranking African government officials. Contrary to many critics, the Malaba Protocol on the Establishment of the African Criminal Court satisfied the requirements of both legality and legitimacy as an international criminal court. Consequently, since the African Criminal Court and the International Criminal Court have joint jurisdiction over the most serious crimes of international concern, the harmonization of the African Criminal Court and the International Criminal Court on the basis of complementarity and cooperation will lead to the formation of a tandem to combat impunity for the most serious crimes affecting the international community. The article analyzes that, despite the tense relations, the coordinated work of the African Union and the International Criminal Court is necessary in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern. The author comes to the conclusion that the African Criminal Court is not an African alternative, but an addition to the International Criminal Court.