‘We love you more than you love yourselves’

We all feel it: the outrage in the face of injustice; the burning desire to help those less fortunate; the belief this world can be a better place. Sadly, however, these commendable convictions are twisted into a blinkered self-righteousness that accomplishes the opposite of “doing good.”The International Criminal Court launched on to the scene with high hopes. The time had come, finally, for equal justice before the law. This time, the world would build a global institution that doesn’t evoke the too familiar rhyme of “west knows best” and instead gives voice to the voiceless, power to the powerless. Along with many of my fellow interns, I arrived in the Hague burning with desire to create a more just world. We believed if people responsible for the most heinous crimes imaginable were held to account, the crimes would stop or at least decrease in severity and frequency.It quickly became apparent to me that both institutional and human failures would prevent the ICC from achieving these lofty goals.A colleague who had never been to Africa told of how much she wanted to explore the Congolese jungle with her backpack, tour South Africa to see what a post-racial society was like, and Botswana because of the awesome Safaris. Then came the supervisor who brazenly told me that the reason the ICC was only trying African cases was because crime and human rights abuse are inherently African.In meetings, representatives from the powerful countries spoke for hours on behalf of the voiceless, while representative from country cases got ten minutes. The recent, arrogant dismissal of those most affected by the ICC is not particular to the current treatment of the African Union. It is business as usual.The hints of racism were not always subtle. I came face to face with a large size ‘ICC goes to Congo’ poster in the travel department designed to evoke Tintin – including the image of the red lip black man and giraffe. I am pretty sure I could not find a more fitting illustration of the way the ICC sees its work in Africa if I tried.Awash with good intentions, fundraisers for worthy and trendy causes are an integral part of the Court. One particular event on DRC had someone beating drums and singing songs to a room full of people about the need to save the Congo. Save from whom and from what exactly, no one seemed to know – or ask – let alone discuss sustainable reforms, the continuous impunity of the government that had referred the cases, or even their politically selective nature. The drum solo and songs about rape seemed enough to get to the heart of the matter.And last but not least came an email from one intern who proclaimed that the ICC would save women from the daily ordeal of rape in the DRC. Never mind that at this point no cases had yet to be tried to completion, one of which was stalled due to the Prosecutor’s refusal to comply with the Court’s order to share evidence. Not to mention the inadmissible witnesses because those sent in the field forgot to take into consideration that a little bit of per diem money and the promise to travel to the Hague are considerable incentives to testify against pretty much anyone.I really wish I were making this up.These are not just personal feelings against a ‘noble institution’, there are also structural and legal inequalities that have meant the ICC is doomed to fail. Article 15 of the Rome Statute gives the United Nations Security Council the ability to refer cases to the ICC. It’s reminiscent of elsewhere in the UN charter where it gives five powerful countries ultimate say over everyone – and everything – else. But this ignores the fact that the majority of the permanent members of the Security Council (Russia, China and the United States) are not even themselves signatories to the Rome Statute which established the ICC. Digest that for a moment. Those with the most power to decide who should be held accountable are themselves under no obligation to adhere to the same standards. Indeed the United States is so committed to protecting its sovereignty from the jurisdiction of the ICC that Congress has passed a law authorising US forces to rescue any US citizen that may be held by the ICC anywhere in the world. The American Member Service Protection Act states “The President is authorized to use all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any person who is being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court.” When the US does it, it is ‘national interest’, but for Africa it is ‘justifying impunity’. Forget the straw man argument that objecting to the ICC equates to support for crimes against humanity and those who perpetrate them. It is an objection to the persistent and condescending notion that Africans are the children who must be obedient. As Africans, we must take responsibility for even signing on to the Rome Statute. It’s the equivalent of children selecting the stick with which their parents can beat them. And now it is time for the punishment. We must suffer silently because the rules of this game are not based on fairness, they are based on a system where we must do as we are told. This is why when we call for respect for our sovereignty, we are called lovers of impunity. And when we demand equality, we are told we are separate and not yet ready to be equal.But just like the civilising mission was never really about teaching us to love Jesus, this new wave of “we just want the best for you” is not the solution to our problems. Yes, there are crimes against humanity that have been committed and yes we must hold perpetrators accountable. But our salvation has never been and will never come from anyone but ourselves.We are not a continent of victims to be rescued from ourselves. We are not a voiceless people to be spoken for, to be fed or to be taught right from wrong. We are a people capable of facing our own challenges including holding our own leaders accountable.Currently employed in the communications department at the Office of the President of Rwanda, Stephanie is co-founder of former Genocide Intervention Network, an activist against feel good activism that perpetuates dependency and a Thomas Sankara fan hoping to contribute to Rwanda’s progress.

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‘We love you more than you love yourselves’