Justice in Africa

This work describes the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) - the first international court created to try persons for genocide and violation the humanitarian law of non-international armed conflict. The book begins with an explanation of the causes of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It then discusses the UN Security Council's creation of the ICTR and the Tribunal's organization, functioning, accomplishments and shortcomings. The author explains how the Tribunal has gained custody over suspects who had fled to other countries in Africa, Europe and also to the USA. The book analyzes the ICTR's first several cases and describes the unique contributions the Tribunal is making to the expansion of humanitarian law. In addition, the author describes Rwanda's own legal attempts to deal with the trauma of 1994 by passing a new genocide statute and creating special genocide courts. He also explains the similiarities and differences between the Tribunal for Rwanda and the one created by the UN Security Council to deal with major crimes committed during the break-up of former Yugoslavia.