Browsing by Author "Margret Nanyonjo"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An assessment of the impact of the International Criminal Court in combating crimes against humanity in Africa
    (Uganda Christian University, 2026-05-11) Margret Nanyonjo
    The establishment of the International Criminal Court under the Rome Statute marked a historic milestone in the fight against impunity for grave international crimes. As the first permanent international tribunal with jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression, the ICC was designed to ensure accountability where domestic systems are unwilling or unable to prosecute offenders. Since its operationalization in 2002, the majority of the Court's investigations and prosecutions have focused on African situations, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Libya, Central African Republic, and Sudan. This dissertation critically examines the effectiveness of the ICC in prosecuting crimes against humanity within these African contexts. It argues that the effectiveness of the Court cannot be understood purely as a legal matter but must be analyzed through political, institutional, and governance dynamics. Using qualitative case study methodology and drawing upon realism, liberalism, constructivism, and feminist international relations theories, this study demonstrates that the ICC‟s effectiveness is significantly shaped by political will, state cooperation, institutional capacity, sovereignty concerns, and regional diplomacy. While the ICC has achieved notable legal milestones, including convictions and the development of victim participation mechanisms, its enforcement limitations and reliance on state cooperation continue to constrain its overall impact in Africa.