The Malabo Protocol: A Panacea for Crimes Prevention in Africa?

Abstract

The study provides a critical review of selected articles contained in the Malabo Protocol. The protocol, which provides an amendment to the protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights is one of eight legal instruments adopted by African Union (AU) leaders on 27 June 2014, but undoubtedly one of its most significant. The protocol established the criminal section of the African Court and outlined a list of fourteen crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court with the aim of forestalling crimes in Africa. If the Court gets the 15 ratifications needed to enter into force, it will be able to investigate and prosecute international, transnational, and other crimes through its three separate chambers and jurisdictions. The Court is poised to introduce a novelty development in the international legal system by having three chambers into a single court with a common set of judges.