The fact that these cases were heard in the same week may be merely coincidental, but it nevertheless sends out a strong signal that commanders who commit or permit atrocities will ultimately be held responsible.

July 17, International Justice Day, is a reminder both of how difficult it is to bring the people responsible for the world's worst crimes to justice and of how crucially important it is not to give up.

The establishment of the SCC is unprecedented in recent years in that the world will now have a hybrid tribunal working in a country where the ICC has already opened investigations.

In 2012, the Obama administration issued a US strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa with a stated objective to promote and protect "human rights, civil society and independent media" as an integral part in strengthening democratic institutions on the African continent.