RNW recently spoke to Fatou Bensouda, the Gambian chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Here she answers a question posed by one of our readers: Many Ivorians consider you to be a puppet of the West. What do you think about that?
This video is part of the Africa Desk’s French-language platform to discuss the international justice case of former president of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo
Bensouda has been active in sharing her experiences and perspectives on international justice.
In November 2024, she delivered a keynote address at the Bar Council in London, where she discussed the significant challenges she faced during her tenure from 2012 to 2021.
She revealed that she and her family received direct threats and faced “thug-style tactics” aimed at undermining her work, particularly in politically sensitive cases involving alleged war crimes by Israel and the United States.
Despite these pressures, Bensouda emphasized her commitment to impartiality and the importance of the ICC’s independence.
Additionally, Bensouda has joined the Board of Trustees of eyeWitness to Atrocities, an initiative by the International Bar Association that supports the documentation of human rights violations through verifiable multimedia evidence.
Her appointment reflects her ongoing dedication to promoting accountability for atrocity crimes.
