Southern Africa African Transitional Justice Hub

Peace Declaration Around Elections in Malawi

The Parties to the Declaration confirmed the need to take a stand against electoral violence, impunity and injustice as such acts are detrimental to the peace, welfare and sustained development of Malawi. The Parties agreed that ahead of and following the tripartite elections on 20 May 2014, they would forcefully speak out against violence and...

Peace Agreements

Political Events between 2002 and 2009 in Madagascar

In Accord 1 the Parties agreed to declare null and void with immediate effect all administrative sanctions and all judicial sentences pronounced in connection with the events of 2002, and to put in place the necessary measures, including for civil reparations and reconstitution of careers. In the Political Accord, the Parties agreed that the transition...

Truth Commissions

South Africa

The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-2002) was mandated to investigate gross human rights violations committed during apartheid from 1960 to 1994. According to its founding legislation, the commission’s objectives included establishing as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of the violations; facilitating the granting of amnesty to persons...

Transitional Justice Processes

South Africa

South Africa’s history has long been marred by racism and discrimination. In 1652, the Dutch East India Company established a settlement in the Cape. Once there, the settlers brutalized and dispossessed the indigenous San and Khoikhoi populations, forcing them into indentured servitude. Control over the Cape passed to the British in 1806. European domination was...

Truth Seeking and Sexual Violence

South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1996-2002)

Following a political stalemate in the 1980s and 1990s, which had seen growing unrest and ungovernability in South Africa, the National Party government, the African National Congress (ANC), the Inkatha Freedom Party and other political groups entered into negotiations to end apartheid and establish a democracy.

Regional Economic Communities Frameworks

Southern African Development Community

According to its founding treaty, the objectives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) include promoting sustainable and equitable economic growth and socioeconomic development that will ensure poverty alleviation with the ultimate objective of its eradication, enhancing the standard and quality of life of the people of Southern Africa and supporting the socially disadvantaged through...

Truth Commissions

Zambia

The Tunisian Truth and Dignity Commission (Instance Vérité et Dignité) (2013-2019) was mandated to investigate human rights violations committed from 1955 to 2013. The mandate specifically tasked the commission with investigating human rights violations that targeted women, children, the elderly, those with special needs and other vulnerable groups.

Transitional Justice Processes

Zimbabwe

After years of British colonialism and later white minority rule, the liberation movements in Rhodesia achieved black majority rule with the signing of the Lancaster House Settlement in 1979. In March 1980, the country held its first democratic elections, resulting in Robert Mugabe, of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) political party, becoming the...

Truth Commissions

Zimbabwe

The four-person Commission of Inquiry into the Matabeleland Disturbances, known as the Chihambakwe Commission after its chairperson, was mandated to investigate the killings of 1,500 political dissidents and other civilians in the Matabeleland region in 1983 and to gather testimony. The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (2018-present) was mandated to foster post-conflict justice, healing and...