ICC prosecutor urges UN action in Darfur News
ICC prosecutor urges UN action in Darfur

[JURIST] Chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] Fatou Bensouda on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take action to end the conflict in Darfur [JURIST news archive] and bring perpetrators to justice [UN News Centre report]. Bensouda noted that it has been nearly 10 years since the UNSC referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC. She sharply criticized the UNSC for failing to take action against the Sudanese government and to press for the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir [BBC profile; JURIST news archive], who was indicted [JURIST report] by the ICC on five counts of crimes against humanity more than five years ago. Bensouda said, “the ICC’s judicial process cannot take place without arrests. Darfur suspects remain at large and no meaningful steps have been taken to apprehend them and bring them to justice.” Bensouda also called for an investigation into recent allegations that the African Union/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) [official website] has covered up crimes committed by the Sudanese government.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.