INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND ETHIOPIA: COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW AND TRENDS OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENT

Year 2022, Issue: 6, 2 - 19, 31.12.2022

Yusuf Ali Mohammed

Abstract

The WW II and international criminal trials were blessing in disguise for giving birth to the ICC Rome Statute. Though most African States were in the first row in acceding to the latter Statute, Ethiopia isn’t a signatory yet. The recent internal conflict in Ethiopia which grasped international community attention signifies the importance of revisiting and scrutinising the ICC vis-à-vis Ethiopia. In this vein, bearing in mind Ethiopia’s nonadherence to the ICC Rome Statute, the Article addresses whether the normative criminal law and practices of Ethiopian criminal proceeding are compatible with the Rome Statute or not? At the backdrop of Ethiopia’s recent conflict amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Article addresses whether there are feasible scenarios of – Ethiopia referring its case to the ICC, – UN Security Council referring Ethiopia’s case to the ICC, and/or – Ethiopia joining the Rome Statute or not? While addressing these issues, the Article ascertains significant similarities and differences between the ICC Rome Statute and Ethiopian Criminal Law. Apart from these, albeit – an assumption of Ethiopia referring its case to the ICC, – a high probability of the UN Security Council referring Ethiopia’s case to the ICC, and/or – several pushing factors pressuring Ethiopia to join the Rome Statute, the Article pins down the unlikely nature of either scenario.

Keywords

Ethiopia, Criminal Law, International Criminal Court, Rome Statute, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity

Thanks

The Author would like to acknowledge and extends his gratitude to Prof. Dr. Elif UZUN for her critical feedback and comments while developing this Article. The Author also extends his gratitude to Journal of International Relations and Political Science Studies.

ULUSLARARASI CEZA MAHKEMESİ VE ETİYOPYA: KARŞILAŞTIRMA GENEL BAKIŞ VE GÜNCEL GELİŞME EĞİLİMLERİ

Abstract

İkinci Dünya Savaşı ve uluslararası ceza davaları, UCM Roma Statüsünü doğurduğu için kılık değiştirmiş bir nimetti. Afrika Devletlerinin çoğu UCM Roma Statüsüne katılımda ilk sırada olmasına rağmen, Etiyopya henüz imza sahibi değil. Uluslararası toplumun dikkatini çeken Etiyopya'daki son iç çatışma, UCM'nin Etiyopya'ya karşı yeniden gözden geçirilmesinin ve incelenmesinin önemini ifade ediyor. Bu bağlamda, Etiyopya'nın UCM Roma Statüsü'ne bağlı kalmaması akılda tutarak, Makale Etiyopya normatif ceza hukuku ve davası uygulamalarının Roma Statüsü ile uyumlu olup olmadığını ele almaktadır. Etiyopya'nın son zamanlarda savaş suçları ve insanlığa karşı işlenen suçlarla ilgili varan çatışmasının arka planında, Makale – Etiyopya'nın davasını UCM'ye havale etmesi, – BM Güvenlik Konseyi'nin Etiyopya'nın davasını UCM'ye havale etmesi ve/veya – Etiyopya'nın Roma Statüsüne katılabiliri senaryolar olup olmadığını ele almaktadır. Bu konuları ele alırken, makale UCM Roma Statüsü ile Etiyopya Ceza Hukuku arasında önemli benzerlikler ve farklılıklar tespit etmektedir. Bunların dışında - Etiyopya'nın davasını UCM'ye havale ettiği varsayımı - BM Güvenlik Konseyi'nin Etiyopya'nın davasını UCM'ye havale etme olasılığının yüksek olması ve/veya - Etiyopya'yı Roma Statüsü'ne katılmaya zorlayan bir dizi itici faktör olsa da, Makale her iki senaryonun da olası olmayan doğasını ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Etiyopya, Ceza Hukuku, İnsanlığa karşı suçlar, Uluslararası Ceza Mahkemesi, Roma Statüsü, Savaş Suçları

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