Fatou Bom Bensouda

Fatou Bom Bensouda (born 1961) is a Gambian lawyer and international jurist best known for serving as the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from 2012 to 2021. She is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in advancing accountability for mass atrocities and strengthening the role of transitional justice in international law.

Bensouda began her career as Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia before moving to the international stage. She worked as Legal Adviser and Trial Attorney at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), where she gained firsthand experience prosecuting crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity. Her work at the ICTR deepened her commitment to justice for victims and laid the foundation for her future role at the ICC.

In 2004, she joined the ICC as Deputy Prosecutor and later succeeded Luis Moreno Ocampo as Chief Prosecutor in 2012. During her nine-year tenure, Bensouda led investigations and prosecutions into cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in multiple contexts, including Darfur (Sudan), Kenya, Libya, the Central African Republic, Mali, and Afghanistan. She consistently emphasized that transitional justice must prioritize victims’ rights, reparations, and truth alongside criminal accountability.

Despite facing political pressure and challenges—such as the withdrawal of some states from the ICC and criticism of the Court’s focus on Africa—Bensouda remained steadfast in her belief that international criminal justice is integral to peacebuilding. Her advocacy reinforced that impunity undermines reconciliation, and that accountability is a cornerstone of transitional justice.

After leaving the ICC, she has continued to serve in high-level roles, including as Gambia’s High Commissioner to the UK and as a respected member of various international panels on justice and human rights.

Her contributions have earned her global recognition, including listings among the most powerful women in international law. Fatou Bensouda’s career embodies the principle that transitional justice requires strong institutions of accountability, courage in the face of political resistance, and an unwavering commitment to victims