African countries have a wealth of experience in implementing truth commissions and adapting them to their national contexts, spanning several decades. As noted in the 2019 African Union Transitional Justice Policy, truth commissions are an indicative element of transitional justice. They are “legal bodies established to examine and address violations and abuses. They also serve to establish a full historical record of such violations, including the various experiences of different groups such as women, children and youth, the identity of the victims and perpetrators, as well as the role of various State and non-State institutions, and to provide for measures of reconciliation and healing.”
For each truth commission, when available, this database includes the commission’s mandate, method and year of establishment, period active and final report. It also includes the conflict period as defined in the mandate and the peace agreement that gave rise to the commission. The database was updated in 2023.
Mali
Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission was mandated to investigate all gross human rights violations committed in Mali between 1960 and 2013. It began holding public hearings in 2019.
Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
2014, by decree | 1960-2014 | Law No. 2014-003/P-RM of 15 January 2014 (French) | – | 2015 Algiers Peace Accord |