The Icc And Democracy In Africa: The Cases of Cote D’ivoire and Kenya

Abstract

Following post-electoral crisis in Kenya and Cote D’Ivoire, the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted some political leaders from the two countries. Those indicted included Laurent Gbagbo and Uhuru Kenyatta of Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya respectively. The ICC’s action was subsequently criticized as injurious to democracy in Africa, particularly in the case of Kenyatta who had been elected as president of Kenya. This study examined the role of the ICC with regard to democratic consolidation in Africa using Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya as case studies. The study hypothesized that the ICC through its indictment of the two leaders contributed to the stability of the two countries. This can be seen as a major step towards democratic consolidation. It was therefore concluded that the ICC is critical to democratic consolidation in Africa.