The ‘complementarity principle’ could increase the ICC’s global legitimacy

The ICC has come under sustained attacks for a disproportionate focus on crimes in Africa, discrediting the Court’s mandate amid accusations of bias. By looking inwardly and by actualising the ‘complementarity principle’, the new Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has an opportunity to strengthen municipal criminal courts’ capacity for trying atrocity crimes, which could thereby enhance the legitimacy of the ICC as the Court of last resort.