In its short existence, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has particularly targeted Africa. And now Russia is in its sights with an arrest warrant issued for the Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The move raises old questions about whether the ICC is designed to uphold international law or a tool of certain powers to target weaker nations, individuals or those deemed their enemies.

In the case of Russia, within just over a year, the court managed to issue an arrest warrant for President Putin over alleged war crimes related to the Ukraine conflict. It has focused the allegations on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

But it said it failed to make a case against President George Bush or Prime Minister Tony Blair for their illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. And the court has been loath to hold Israel to account for any of the documented murders, theft of Palestinian land or atrocities it commits on a daily basis.

The case of the former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir placed South Africa in a particular conundrum as the head of state had to flee the country while on an official visit for an African Union summit, simply because of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.

What value does the court have, what are its true motives and should Africa resign from the ICC en masse?

Guests: Professor Francis Boyle – Professor of international law, University of Illinois College of Law

David van Wyk – Studies human rights law, international human rights law, and corporate social responsibility