Publication

This paper discusses a provision that grants immunity from prosecution to serving African Union (AU) heads of state and other senior officials which was contained in a June 2014 amendment to the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights. In particular, the author examines the motivations behind the adoption of this provision as well as the context within which it was created. He contends that the amendment should be seen against the backdrop of the AU’s open hostility to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) investigations focusing on Africa.