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.
Togo
Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission of Togo (2009-2012) was tasked with investigating politically motivated violence and human rights violations from 1958 until the 2005 election. The commission involved representatives from all areas of civil society in contributing to an accurate account of events. It was tasked with creating a body for distributing reparations to victims and promoting reconciliation between victims and perpetrators. It was also tasked with producing several reports on its findings and recommendations. The commission did not have the power to access all information, but rather was subject to the willingness of government officials and other actors to provide information or testimony and adopt its recommendations.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 2009, by presidential decree | 1958-2005 | – | Vol. 1 of Final Report (French) | – |