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.
Nigeria
Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission
The final report of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (1999-2002), also known as the Oputa Panel, was not published but unofficially released in 2015. The original report ordered an investigation into military rule that began in 1966 and lasted until 1999 when the country returned to democratic rule. The mandate also sought to acknowledge Nigeria’s past abuses and begin a process to compensate for injustices.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 1999, by presidential order | 1966-1999 | Statutory Instrument No. 8 of 1999
Statutory Instrument No. 13 of 1999 |
2015 Unofficial Release of Final Report Synoptic Overview; Vol. 1; Vol. 2; Vol. 3; Vol. 4; Vol. 5; Vol. 6; Vol. 7, Vol. 8; Vol. 9 | – |
Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The mandate of the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2007-2009) was to produce an authoritative record of the causes and effects of cult-related atrocities and other violence in the Nigerian state between 2000 and 2004.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 2007 | 2000-2004 | – | Report not made public | – |
Osun Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The mandate of the Osun Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2011) was to identify the grievances and causes that led to gross human rights violations, identify the state and non-state actors responsible, and acknowledge the suffering of those most affected, among other aims.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 2011 | 2003-2011 | – | Report not made public | – |