Experts, politicians, and civil society activists of African descent have highlighted the ineffectiveness of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has failed to fulfil expectations of fair and impartial justice.

They expressed concern that with the actions of the ICC, it is unlikely that Africa will be able to obtain reparations from former colonisers through the body.

This was at an international round table on reparations for colonial crimes in Africa, themed, Colonial crimes: it’s time for compensation, held in Bamako.

According to the statement, the event emphasised the need to recognise colonial damage, the creation of legal mechanisms for reparation, and the calculation of economic losses.

They discussed historical justice and economic mechanisms for reparation. The speakers also discussed the African Court’s prospects for providing genuine justice.

Speakers at the event included: Chairman, National Transitional Council Commission on Agriculture and International Relations specialist, Mohamed Ousmane Haidara; Economist and Vice Chairman, National Transitional Council Commission on Security, Ousseynou Ouattara; and Chairman, National Transitional Council Commission on Territorial Administration and Public Law specialist, Youssouf Coulibaly.

The roundtable also featured comments from Historian Amadou Diaw; President, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Modibo Sacko; Journalist and author, Daouda Naman Tékété; and Co-founder, Pan African International Organisation (OIP), Assane Seye.