Taking the Afro Descendants Case to the International Court of Justice: A Peoples' Mandate Issued to the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

UPDATE:

The Mandate was delivered to and received by PFPAD on April 5, 2023

*************************************************************************************************

LETTER TO PFPAD FROM

H.E. AMBASSADOR ARIKANA CHIHOMBORI-QUAO

*************************************************************************************************

Please endorse the Mandate by completing the form below and circulating widely

A MANDATE FROM THE AFRO DESCENDANT PEOPLE ISSUED TO THE PERMANENT FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT TO REQUEST AN ADVISORY OPINION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ON THEIR STATUS AS PRISONERS OF WAR UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION

After taking the floor at the First Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) on December 6, 2022, Siphiwe Baleka, President of the Balanta B’urassa History & Genealogy Society in America (BBHAGSIA) said

“we call on this Forum to vigorously request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on our status as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention as well as our right to conduct plebiscites for self determination including the right to secede from the jurisdictions of colonial successor states in the Western hemisphere and form our own independent governments.” 

At that moment, on behalf of people of African Descent, Mr. Baleka invoked the mandate of the PFPAD “To request the preparation and dissemination of information by the United Nations system on issues relating to people of African descent . . . .”

In his closing remarks to the First Session entitled “Reparatory Justice and Sustainable Development: A Way Forward?”,  PFPAD member Michael McEachrane stated, 

“We, the Members of the Forum,. . .  propose that the legal and institutional grounds for pursuing reparatory justice at the UN be examined to both clarify the possibilities of pursuing reparatory justice at the UN and the International Court of Justice . . . .”

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) states on its website

“Since States alone are entitled to appear before the Court, public (governmental) international organizations cannot be parties to a case before it. However, a special procedure, the advisory procedure, is available to such organizations and to them alone. This procedure is available to five United Nations organs, fifteen specialized agencies and one related organization. . . . Advisory proceedings begin with the filing of a written request for an advisory opinion addressed to the Registrar by the United Nations Secretary-General or the director or secretary-general of the entity requesting the opinion.”

UN Charter Article 96 states: 

1. The General Assembly or the Security Council may request the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on any legal question

2. Other organs of the United Nations and specialized agencies, which may at any time be so authorized by the General Assembly, may also request advisory opinions of the Court on legal questions arising within the scope of their activities.

Further, Resolution 75/314. Establishment of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent emphasizes the opportunity for “the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action” and the CHAIRPERSON’S PREPARATORY DOCUMENT FOR THE DRAFT UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE PROMOTION  AND FULL RESPECT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN  DESCENT states, 

“Reaffirming that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in 2001, and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, adopted in 2009, as well as the political declarations on the occasion of the tenth and twentieth anniversaries of the adoption of the  Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, provide a comprehensive United Nations framework and solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and  related intolerance, and reaffirm our commitment to their full and effective implementation;”

Accordingly, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) states, 

“104. We also strongly reaffirm as a pressing requirement of justice that victims of human rights violations resulting from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, especially in the light of their vulnerable situation socially, culturally and economically, should be assured of having access to justice, including legal assistance where appropriate, and effective and appropriate protection and remedies, including the right to seek just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination, as enshrined in numerous international and regional human rights instruments, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;”

Finally, The US Government has stated in the Brief in Support of Motion to Quash Indictment for Lack of Jurisdiction Under Article III, U.S. Constitution Brought by the Defendant (Imari Obadele and Gaidi Obadele) that

"the issue of whether black folks now within the United States have ever been converted, in accordance with settled principles of universally established law, into United States citizens, and divested altogether of their original foreign African nationality". . . . "is a matter of law."

The recognition that the question must be settled in accordance with principles of universally established law thereby requires that it can not be answered in any domestic court and must be settled at the ICJ.

Thus, our mandate to the PFPAD to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ rests on a solid institutional basis. As a rule of the ICJ, organizations and States authorized to participate in Advisory proceedings may submit written statements. Therefore, included in this mandate are the following written statements that can serve as an initial basis for assembling all the necessary information about the Afro Descendants’ status under the Geneva Convention:

  1. NEW AFRIKAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS: Statement to the 20th session of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration

  2. Siphiwe Baleka Statement to the 1st Session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

  3. THE PERMANENT FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT, THE DURBAN DECLARATION, REPATRIATION AND PLEBISCITE FOR SELF DETERMINATION

  4. The African American Case for Independence at the International Court of Justice

The specific claims which require an ICJ advisory opinion are summarized as:

Summary

1. 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐬, known as Afro Descendants in international forums, are prisoners of the declared Dum Diversas War.

2. Afro Descendants owe no allegiance to any Nation’s laws.

3. At the end of the US Civil War, the United States legislated voluntary, compensated repatriation and ceded territory for New Afrikan self-governing territories in pursuit of independence.

4. The assassination of President Lincoln led to a campaign of fraud and terror to deny New Afrikan’s right to return to their homeland, reduce the status of the recently established self-governing territories, and deny the full recognition of the New Afrikan’s political rights.

5. Cyril Briggs, W.E.B. DuBois and Marcus Garvey advocated for New Afrikan self-government and independence, the latter two petitioning the League of Nations for justice and for self determination. The United States, however, refused to sign a special treaty agreeing to the international protection of its internal minorities. 

6. The United States failed its sacred trust obligation under the UN Charter Chapter XI Article 73 to promote New Afrikan well-being and to “develop self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations of the peoples, and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions.” It further failed to declare New Afrikan territories as trust territories, under UN Charter, Chapter XII Article 77.1.c trusteeship system.

7. The United States continues to violate the human rights, and in particular, the political rights, of New Afrikan/AfroDescendant peoples by continuing the campaign of fraud and terror limiting their political rights only to citizenship in the United States when it should be honoring its commitments to voluntary repatriation with compensation and recognition of New Afrikan self-governing territories made at the conclusion of the Civil War.

8. The Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (PFPAD) can request a special advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the New Afrikan status as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention and the necessity of holding a plebiscite to determine their collective political destiny.

9. CONCLUSION: The United States territory is an acquisition of legal title by conquest that has been rejected as anachronistic and contrary to the Charter of the United Nations. Afro Descendant/New Afrikan presence on said territory is the result of a declaration of total war and the subsequent “Trans Atlantic Slave Trade” that has been acknowleged as a crime against humanity both now and then. Territorial acquisitions or other advantages gained through the threat or wrongful use of force cannot have legal effect, because international law cannot confer legality upon the consequences of wrongful acts incompatible with the Charter. In such cases, there should be full restitution. To claim that our status is “American citizen” is to confer legality on an acquisition of territorial legal title by conquest, a crime against humanity, and a campaign of fraud and terror by the government of the United States of America (after the assassination of President Lincoln and the 14th Amendment).

10. An ICJ opinion that descendants of the people kidnapped, terrorized, tortured and  trafficked from their homelands on the African continent and enslaved in the Americas are in fact “prisoners of war” until their “final release and repatriation” under the Geneva Convention will provide legal clarity for reparatory justice for all Afro Descendant people.

Endorsed by:

Kenniss Henry, National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA)

Maynard Henry, National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA)

Efia Nwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self Determination

Nkechi Taifa, Reparation Education Project

Senghor Baye, UNIA-ACL RC2020

Esther Stanford-Xosei, Global Afrikan Peoples Parliament.

Jalil Muntaqim, Spirit of Mandela Committee, National Jericho Movement, the Peoples’ Senate

HE Amb. Rev. KWAME KAMAU, International Civil Society Working Group - UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Marlon Miller, Bahamas National Reparation Committee

Fabien Anthony, Pan-African Council

Kamm Howard, Reparations United

Ade Olaiya, UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab

Niambi Hall-Campbell Dean, Bahamas National Reparations Committee

Steve Reid, Caribbean Rastafari Organisation Inc.

KWAME-OSAGYEFO KALIMARA, New Afrikan People's Organization/Malcolm X Grassroots Movement

Saikou Ak Jallow, Movement for Social Justice MS-J4 Gambia

June Lewis, IDPAD Coalition UK

Dr. Wade Nobles, Professor Emeritus of Black Psychology and Africana Studies

Kali Akuno, Cooperation Jackson

Miguel Angel Avila Nazareno., Movimiento Federalista Panafricano de América Latina y el Caribe Hispano -MFPA/ALCH-Ecuador.

Morgan Moss JR, Ubuntu National & International Trade & Education (UNITE)

Nina Womack, Transmedia 360

Camara Jules P Harrell, Howard University Department of Psychology

Augustin F C Holl, Xiamen University, China

Patricia Silva, Stichting Black Matters, the Netherlands

Renate Brison, Pro Soualiga Foundation, St. Martin

Jami Luqman, New Afrikan Network 519 Association

Tafari Thompson, The Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress, Bahamas

Mickey Bowe, House Of Rastafari Bahamas. Ethiopia Africa black international Congress

Darren Crenshaw, Street Salvation Ministries NGO

NZABI MISAMU, DYNAMIC MATONGE, Belgium

Dana Dennard, Aakhet Center For Human Development

Omowale Afrika, Afrikan War College

Mwalimu Kabaila, Presiding Elder, National Black Council of Elders

Cheryl Grills, Loyola Marymount University

NNAMDI Ture, All African People Revolutionary Party

Ashraf Cassiem, Anti Eviction Campaign

Laurel Klafehn, Immigrant Freedom Fund of Colorado

Daïana GOMES, RepatBissau

Eric Phillips, Guyana Reparations Committee

Dawn Demeritte, The Bahamas National Reparation Committee

Woody Carter, Bay Area Black United Fund

Kevin Washington, Grambling State Univeversity/Roots Afrika

Kandace Walker, Sojourner Enterprise

Confidence Okeke, UNIAACL-EACL

John Ratcliff, Attorney at Law (retired)

Melvin Robinson, Original Flavor ~ Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Eta Nu Nu & Iota Psi Chapters) ~ Artists4AfricA ~ New Harvest Urban Arts Center ~ All Revolutionary Qulture Liberation Lab

Ikemba Agulu, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement

Kwasi Akwamu, Obadele Society

Donald Mitchell, Osa Meji Temple

Elsie Gayle, Mothers and Midwives Together across the Diaspora

MARIE-LYNE CHAMPIGNEUL, Kartyé Lib Mémoire & Patrimoine Océan Indien

Joe Washington, The Nia Foundation

MaryJo Copeland, Racial Reconciliation Group

King Robinson TANYI TAMBE AYUK, AIGC- African Indigenous Governance Council

Davidson Madira, Digital Green Investment Agency (DIGIA)

Olusola Oni, Omo Yoruba Tooto

Sunny Lambe, Building Blocks Initiative

Enpress Judah, Black Community Health Group, UK

Ann-Marie Cousins, Greenwich African Caribbean Organisation (GACO)

Niamo Muid, The HealMobile

Alex Richards, Collectivité d'Outre Mer de Saint-Martin

Dorbrene O'Marde, Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission

Kevin Edwards, African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI), Antigua

Edison Marqués Cortez, Asociación de la Unidad Afroamericana (AUAA), Ecuador

Marion Thandabantu Iverson, Independent Labor & Human Rights Educator

Tongo Eisen-Martin, Black Alliance for Peace

Teniqua Pope, Black Alliance for Peace

Michelle McCormick, Cooperation Vermont

GARNET KING, BLACK RIDERS LIBERATION PARTY

CF WHITE, Educational Training Consultants

Melanie Bush, May First Movement Technology +++

Evelyn Johnson, United Black American Progress Association

Betty Davis, New Abolitionist Movement

Krishna Daly, Black alliance for peace

Aleta Toure, Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative

Ashaki Binta, NBLM National Unity Initiative

Netfa Freeman, Pan-African Community Action (PACA)

Angaza Sababu Laughinghouse, NC Public Service Workers Union-UE LOCAL 150 and Black Workers For Justice

Kimberly Monroe, Pan-African Community Action

Pamela Dominguez, Reborn From Authentic Roots

Tyari Heard, BAP

Zizwe Tchiguka, All African People's Revolutionary Party

Matt Meyer, International Peace Research Association

Gabriel Dzodom, Black Alliance for Peace

Gus Griffin, Ujima People's Progress Party

Claire M. Cohen, Pittsburgh Black Workers Center

Cleo Silvers, Radical Elders

Jermaine St. Rose, Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress Church of Salvation - Barbados/Ethiopia

Larsene Taylor, BWFJ

Aisha Mohammad, Oakland Jericho

Joya Brandon, Osha N’ile

Maryse Isimat-Mirin, Ass. Bien-être et Éducation

G. Eveta Morrison, The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated

Victoria Jenkins, NABWS

Vanessa Sparks, United African Coalition for Human Rights

Anjel Clark, IDIA

Allendy Decopin, The Black Alliance for Peace

Christopher Buchanan El, Parliament Organics - non-profit

Rasheed Van Putten, Pan-African Community Action

Harold Welton, Coalition To Free Ruchell Magee.org

Ellen Rollins, NAJLCA.org

Charles Hill, Soarase Inc.

RALPH POYNTER, LYNNE STEWART ORG. & NEW ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT

Kade Griffiths, Spectre Journal

Tejvir Grewall, KPFK 90.7FM

Curtis Murphy, Fihankra Ghana

Judah Bouguila, The Observatory to defend the right to difference Tunisia

Sanyika Bryant, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement

Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Global Community Initiatives

Evan Wright, Black Alliance for Peace

Kazembe Balagun, Independent Scholar Activist

Sean Fabien, Cooperation Jackson

Elaf Alnayer, Pan African Forum-Sudan Sudan

Avani Pisapati, Lehigh University

Molefi Askari, Ubuntu Institute for Community Development

Priscilla Ferreira, Collective Diaspora-Brazil

Eleanor Finley, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Michael Guynn, THE GUYNN FAMILY FOUNDATION

Kevin Collins, Roots in Guinea Bissau

Afia Khalia Kodua, Black August of L.A.

Egbert Higinio, The Garifuna Nation

Jeanne Ayivorh, RRG

Egbert R Higinio, President The Garifuna Nation

Robin Benton, ICSWG PFPAD

Liz Millman, Learning Links International UK

Garrick Prayogg, Cultural Diversity Network UK

Khalifa Losene Dunor, United African Organization For Literacy Development UAOLD Liberia

Asundep Ntui, AFRICAN DIASPORA DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

and many more!

Add your name and organisation to the list that will be regularly updated until March 31!