Perspectives on Africa's response to the ICC's arrest warrants in the Libya situation

President Jacob Zuma expressed ‘extreme disappointment’ with the ICC’s decision.

The judges’ ruling has been widely welcomed, not least in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya. However, for some African leaders and the African Union (AU), as confirmed at its 17th annual Heads of State Summit on 1 July 2011, the arrest warrants are of major concern. The AU has repeatedly stated that only political solutions can bring peace to Libya. South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, who hosted a meeting of the AU’s High Level Ad Hoc Committee on Libya the day before the warrants were announced, expressed ‘extreme disappointment’ with the ICC’s decision.  

 Author: Antoinette Louw, International Crime in Africa Programme