The Immunity Question before the International Criminal Court: Revisiting African Sovereignty and the Colonial Origins of International Law

Abstract

This article discusses the contentious issue of Head of State of immunity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the context of the historical link between the colonial confrontation of the nineteenth century and the development of the doctrines of state sovereignty and immunity. It examines the philosophical underpinnings of the immunity in international criminal law debate and concludes that a clear understanding of the role that colonialism played in the development of international law is pivotal to understanding the concerns raised by the African Union and individual African leaders regarding the indictment of African leaders by the ICC.