West Africa African Transitional Justice Hub

Côte d’Ivoire

The Mediation Committee for National Reconciliation (Comité de Médiation pour la Réconciliation Nationale) was mandated to investigate post-election violence in Abidjan in October 2000, which resulted in the deaths of 171 citizens. The Commission for Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation (2011-2014) was established after the 2010-2011 post-election violence in Côte d’Ivoire as a mechanism to promote...

Truth Seeking and Sexual Violence

Côte d’Ivoire Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2011-2014)

The conflict in Côte d’Ivoire lasted from 2002 to 2011. During this period, the country essentially became divided in two: a largely Muslim north that supported one presidential candidate, Alassane Ouattara, and a largely Christian south in support of another, Laurent Gbagbo (Gumede, 2020). After over a decade of violence, with significant loss of life...

Regional Economic Communities Frameworks

Economic Community of West African States

The founding treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) states that its aim is to promote co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations among member states,...

Peace Agreements

ECOWAS Peace Plan for Sierra Leone

Through the ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone the Parties agreed to the reinstatement of the legitimate Government of President Tejan Kabbah within a period of six months, cessation of hostilities, DDR of combatants, return of refugees and IDPs, unconditional immunities and guarantees from prosecution to all involved in the events of 25 May 1997...

Peace Agreements

Framework Agreement for the Implementation of the Solemn Commitment of 1 April 2012

The Parties agreed that while the Constitution requires an election within 40 days of the resignation of the president, due to the institutional crisis and the rebellion in the North, this would not be possible and a political transition must be put in place towards undertaking free, democratic and transparent elections in the whole territory....

Transitional Justice Processes

Gambia

In February 1965, The Gambia gained independence from colonial Britain, becoming a republic in April 1970. Dawda Jawara, head of the People’s Progressive Party, was the first prime minister and first elected president of independent Gambia. In July 1981, the government prevented a coup with the help of Senegalese forces. In 1982, Jawara and Senegalese...

Truth Seeking and Sexual Violence

Gambia Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (2017-2021)

The Gambian National Assembly passed the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Act on 13 December 2017 and the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was established on 13 January 2018. The commission was mandated to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the human rights violations committed from July 1994 to January 2017 under former...

Truth Commissions

Ghana

Ghana’s National Reconciliation Commission (2002-2004) was mandated to investigate violations and abuses of human rights during the periods of what was termed ‘unconstitutional government’ from 1966 to 1969, 1972 to 1979, and 1981 to 1993. According to its founding legislation, the objectives and functions of the commission included establishing an accurate, complete and historical record...

Transitional Justice Processes

Ghana

On 6 March 1957, Ghana gained independence from Britain, becoming the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve independence from a European colonial power. Spearheading the African decolonial movement and Ghana’s colonial liberation, Francis Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), served as the prime minister of independent Ghana from 1957 until 1960.

Truth Seeking and Sexual Violence

Ghana National Reconciliation Commission (2002-2004)

The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) was created to promote national reconciliation among Ghanaians by establishing a record of past violations and making recommendations for redress of victims and institutional reforms (NRCA, 2002, p. 2). Established by the National Reconciliation Commission Act of 2002, the commission operated from 14 January 2003 to 14 October 2004 with...