Tag: African Union

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The ICC’s Selective Blindfold: Sharp Justice for Africans, Soft Landing for the Powerful by Lawson Akhigbe

For years the International Criminal Court has operated like a colonial-era court with better stationery and a more solemn logo. The docket groaned under the weight of African cases while the architects of certain adventures in Libya, Iraq, and beyond somehow remained mysteriously unburdened by the same enthusiastic pursuit of accountability. The rule of law, we were solemnly told, was universal. The application, it turned out, was rather more exclusive.

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How King Leopold II Of Belgium Killed 10 Million Africans In The Congo – Harrowing Details

King Leopold II of Belgium laid claim to the Congo and declared it his territory while exerting physical threats to the indigenous people of the Congo (Kongo). He declared the people and the land to be his property, and he quickly turned the country into a moneymaking venture for himself and his throne.

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Tinubu, the Sahel and Nigeria’s Most Dangerous Foreign Policy Failure

There was a time when Nigeria did not wait for foreign capitals to define West African security. From the anti-apartheid struggle in Southern Africa to military interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, Nigeria projected power, influence and diplomatic leadership. Whether one agreed with its methods or not, nobody doubted who was leading.

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The Tariff Trap: How Africa Was Turned Into a Warehouse for Raw Materials by Lawson Akhigbe

Long before many African nations even gained independence, an international economic architecture had already been designed to ensure Africa remained primarily a supplier of raw materials while Europe and other industrial powers controlled manufacturing, branding, finance and ultimately the profits.

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Nigeria and the ECOWAS Court: The Ongoing Battle Over Vagrancy Laws

Nigeria's relationship with the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has been tense, highlighted by two recent rulings. The 2017 victory in the landmark case "Dorothy Njemanze & Ors v. Nigeria" saw the court find that Nigeria violated the women's rights to dignity, personal liberty, freedom of movement, and non-discrimination under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The 2025 case, "Lawyers Alert Initiative v. Nigeria," was dismissed because it lacked specific incidents and evidence of concrete harm. The contrasting outcomes underscore the importance of victim-centred litigation in achieving success at the court.

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