West Africa African Transitional Justice Hub

Sierra Leone

In March 1991, a growing rebel force in neighboring Liberia known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded Sierra Leone, commencing one of the most violent civil wars in modern history. With the support of Liberian President Charles Taylor, RUF Commander Foday Sankoh recruited Sierra Leonean youths struggling with unemployment and lack of access to...

Truth Commissions

Sierra Leone

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Sierra Leone (2000-2004) was tasked with investigating violations and abuses of human rights from the 1991 armed conflict until the signing of the Lomé Peace Agreement in 1999. The commission aimed to investigate key events during that period and patterns of human rights violations while restoring dignity to victims...

Truth Seeking and Sexual Violence

Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2002-2004)

From 1991 to 2002, a civil war raged between pro-government forces and rebel groups in Sierra Leone. Conflict-related sexual violence (CSVR) was pervasive during the war. Sierra Leonean women and girls were subjected to widespread and systematic sexual violence perpetrated by rebel groups and, to a lesser extent, pro-government and peacekeeping forces (HRW, 2003). From...

Truth Commissions

The Gambia

The Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (2018-present) was mandated to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights committed during the period of 1994 to 2017, and to consider the granting of reparations to victims and for connected matters. According to its...

Opinion

The Search for The Gambia’s Disappeared Must Use a Victim-Centred Approach

The recent release of the Government White Paper on the TRRC Report demonstrates the importance of applying a victim-centred approach to the search for and identification of the forcibly disappeared, writes Joyce Mutoka.

Truth Commissions

Togo

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.

Transitional Justice Processes

Togo

A former French and British colony, Seychellois society has been shaped by a history of slave labour and trade, resource exploitation, and racialised socioeconomic inequality. In 1756, the French administration occupied Seychelles. Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, France was forced to give Seychelles to Britain as a condition of the Treaty of Paris...

Truth Seeking and Sexual Violence

Togo Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (2009-2012)

For nearly five decades, Togo experienced an internal conflict that was characterised by clashes between political factions, state security forces and various other organisations. From 1958 to 2005, there were continuous attacks by these armed groups on civilians, communities, chiefs and other leaders (CVJR, 2012, p. 227), beginning with the rule of Sylvanus Olympio and...