Examining the Legitimization of Civil Society in the icc through a Look

Examining the Legitimization of Civil Society in the ICC Through a Look into the Central African Republic

Abbreviations

CAR- Central African Republic

ICC-International Criminal Court

OTP- Office of the Prosecutor

FIDH-Federation Internationale de Droits de l’Hommes (International Federation of Human Rights)

LCDH- Ligue centralafricaine de droits de l’Homme (Central African Legue for Human Rights)

HRW- Human Rights Watch

OCODEFAD- Organization for the Compassion and Development for Families in Distress

AI-Amnesty International



The International Criminal Court


Established in 1998 by the ratification of the Rome Statute, the International Criminal Court is a permanent international judicial body designated to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and most recently crimes of aggression. There are four organs within the Court: the Presidency, Office of the Prosecutor, the Judicial Division, and the Registry. The Court represents one out of three bodies created by the Rome Statute. The other two are the Assembly of State Parties and International Trust Fund for Victims. Since it began investigating cases in 2002, the Court has opened cases in Mali, Cote de Ivoire, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Burundi, Uganda, Libya, Darfur, Georgia and the Central African Republic




civil society organization-non-governmental organizations and institutions




Sequence of events

1960: CAR gains independence from France. French government approved David Dacko assumes presidency. Dacko later ousted by Jean Bedel Bokassa, who crowns himself “Emperor of the Central African Empire”

1993: Angé Patassé wins democratic election over President Kolingba, who took power from David Dacko following the restoration of his presidency, with the help of the French.

2002: President Patassé employs Jean Bemba, Congolese warlord, and Abdoulaye Miskine, a mercenary to crush the rebels, led by former Army Chief of Staff François Bozizé.

2003: Bozizé ousts Patassé. Violence continues outside of the capital, Bangui. In coming years, Bozizé’s actions as president breed resentment.

2007: ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor opens an investigation into crimes committed in the CAR during 2002-2003.

2008: Jean Pierre Bemba charged with 3 counts of war crimes and 2 counts of crimes against humanity.

2012-2013: Bozizé ousted by group called, Séléka, led by Michel Djotodia, who takes his place. The Séléka unleash a brutal trail of war, rape, and pillage on the country, sparking religious and ethnic tensions, leading to creation of anti-balaka, an anti-Muslim group to terrorize Muslim minority.

2014: ICC’s, OTP opens another investigation into the CAR, specifically the Crimes of 2012

2016: Jean Pierre Bemba sentenced to 18 years in prison for all charges against him

CAR I

François Bozizé (Left), Ange-Felix Patassé (Right)

CAR II

Anti-balaka (left), Séléka (Right