The International Criminal Court and the Peace Process in Northern Uganda

Damien T.

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The International Criminal Court and the Peace Process in Northern Uganda

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ICC International Criminal Court, Peace Process in Nothern Uganda, war, LRA Lord's Resistance Army, GoU Government of Uganda, guerrilla

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Abstract

The Juba Peace Talks that started in July 2006 in Southern Sudan seem to be one of the best chances to bring an end to the 20-year-long raging conflict in the region of Northern Uganda. Known for its unbelievable atrocities, the war has by now caused the displacement of more than 1.7 million people and the abduction of 30,000 children. With the investigation starting in July 2004, this conflict marks at the same time the first case of the young International Criminal Court (ICC), which has by now issued arrest warrants against five top rebel leaders. This involvement under its legal obligation is bringing the Court in a very difficult situation, having aroused revolted criticism of peace negotiators on the ground and a broad and sometimes whole-heartedly driven discussion about "Peace" and "Justice" in the current context of the overall unstable region in central Africa.

Setting the background: War, Peace Talks and the ICC involvement
The ICC investigation: hindrance or promoter of peace?
1. Judicial Problems
2. Politicial Problems
3. Positive aspects of the ICC involvement
International vs. local justice: the ICC and the "Peace vs. Justice" debate

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[...] cit. One example of a Western perception of justice and the concept of “reconciliation” different to that of Acholi culture: “I hope the court and the people of Uganda can work together to end impunity and to make sure that those responsible for the atrocities in Uganda are brought to justice in the interest of peace and reconciliation”, T. McConnell, Uganda: peace vs. justice?, in: Opendemocracy.net Sep (emphasis by the author). H. Cobban (2006), op. cit., http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0824/p09s01- coop.html (10.12.2006). A. [...]

[...] Branch (2004), International Justice, Local Justice, in: Politics Abroad, p T. Allen (2005), op. cit., pp. 20-21 As a result of the worsening of the situation of the civil population, some main aid donors to Uganda, the EU and UK, made critical remarks about Museveni's politics concerning the war and Jan Egeland, the United Nations Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, remarked in a visit to the region that “Northern Uganda is the most forgotten crisis in the world”, The Refugee Law Project, Faculty of Law, Makerere University Position Paper July 2004, quoted in: T. [...]

[...] 2006), A Strategy for Ending Northern Uganda's Crisis, p.9. See for example: Refugee Law Project, Faculty of Law, Makerere University; Justice and Reconciliation Project, Liu Institute for Global Issues, Gulu District NGO Forum. Those arrest warrants are the first ones ever issued by the young Court, see: International Crisis Group (Jan. 2006), A Strategy for Ending Northern Uganda's Crisis, p.9. In particular: “Crimes against Humanity” (Art.7) and “War Crimes” (Art.8) of the Rome Statute; Joseph Kony is facing 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes: International Crisis Group (Jan. [...]

[...] See: IRIN news: Uganda: ICC could suspend northern investigation – spokesman Apr UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, press release, Sudan-Uganda: Jungle boost for peace process Nov and Uganda: There is hope for peace in the north –Egeland Nov See: International Center for Transitional Justice (2005), Forgotten Voices, p See: ibid. p. 21; Tim Allen's interview with Father Carlos, in: T. Allen (2005), op. cit., p. 58; and International Crisis Group (Sep. 2006), op. cit., p International Crisis Group (Sep. 2006), op. [...]

[...] The International Criminal Court and the Peace Process in Northern Uganda Introduction The Juba Peace Talks that started in July 2006 in Southern Sudan seem to be one of the best chances to bring an end to the 20-year-long raging conflict in the region of Northern Uganda. Known for its unbelievable atrocities, the war has by now caused the displacement of more than 1.7 million people and the abduction of 30,000 children[1]. With the investigation starting in July 2004, this conflict marks at the same time the first case of the young International Criminal Court which has by now issued arrest warrants against five top rebel leaders. [...]

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