This book examines the effects of transitional justice on the conditions for peace and democracy. Ordinarily, the anticipated contribution of transitional justice mechanisms is stated in universal terms, with little regard for the historically specific context. Yet a truth commission, for example, will not have the same function in a society torn by long-term civil war or genocide as in a society where conflict has taken the form of authoritarian repression. Addressing trials, reparations and amnesties, as well as truth commissions, the book systematically addresses the experiences of four very different contemporary transitional justice cases: post-authoritarian Uruguay and Peru and post-conflict Rwanda and Angola. Its analysis, which not only demonstrates that context is a crucial determinant of the impact of transitional justice processes, but also identifies specific contextual obstacles and limitations to these processes, will be of considerable interest to scholars in the fields of transitional justice and peace-building, as well as students generally concerned with human rights and democratisation.

Transitional Justice is a range of processes made by policies and measures that allow dealing with the evil past after a protracted civil war or dictatorship regime. It aims at accountability, putting an end to impunity and restoring relationships by reconciliation and in rendering Justice to the victims of mass violations of human rights. Justice in a post-conflict state is a baffling issue. It quests to know the truth about what happened, whose truth is it, and who is benefiting from it? In this course, we will focus on these 8 points: the origin of Transitional Justice, the success or the Failure of Truth Commissions, Indigenous Justice, Reconciliation, Reparative and Restorative Justice, Amnesty, international and national courts. We look at Indigenous Justice in Africa such as Kpaa Mende, Magamba spirit, Ubushingantahe and Gacaca. From the South African truth commission to the Gacaca jurisdictions, we will try to understand how the transitional justice mechanisms are shaped by circumstances. As this course is designed for Burundian students, particular attention will be paid to the establishment of the transitional justice in that country.

Nowhere in the world is the demand for peace more prominent and challenging than in Africa. From state collapse and anarchy in Somalia to protracted wars and rampant corruption in the Congo; from bloody civil wars and extreme poverty in Sierra Leone to humanitarian crisis and authoritarianism in Sudan, the continent is the focus of growing political and media attention. This book presents the first comprehensive overview of conflict and peace across the continent. Bringing together a range of leading academics from Africa and beyond, Peace and Conflict in Africa is an ideal introduction to key themes of conflict resolution, peacebuilding, security and development. The book's stress on the importance of indigenous Africa approaches to creating peace makes it an innovative and exciting intervention in the field.

This book offers fresh insights on the `justice versus peace' dilemma, examining the challenges and prospects for promoting both peace and accountability, specifically in African countries affected by conflict or political violence. Peace versus Justice? draws on the expertise of many insider analysts, individuals who are not only authorities on transitional accountability processes, but who have participated in them, whether as legal practitioners or commissioners. This volume examines the wide array of experiences with transitional justice both within and outside states on the continent, spanning a range of countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Mozambique, Sudan, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. While the primary focus is on processes in Africa, many of the contributors also draw on lessons from earlier processes elsewhere in the world, particularly Latin America. The chapters in this volume consider a wide range of approaches to accountability and peacebuilding. These include not only domestic courts and tribunals, hybrid tribunals, or the International Criminal Court, but also truth commissions and informal or non-state justice and conflict resolution processes. Taken together, they demonstrate the wealth of experiences and experimention in transitional justice processes on the continent.

This volume addresses the role and importance of education for processes of transitional justice. In the aftermath of conflict and mass violence, education has been one of the tools with which societies have sought to achieve positive transformation. While education has the potential to trigger, maintain, and exacerbate conflict, it has also been designed to promote a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the past and to advance reconciliation, peacebuilding, and prevention. The original contributions in the book reflect on lessons learned from education policies of the past in post-conflict societies and seek innovative, sustainable, and context-sensitive grassroots approaches, designed to advocate critical thinking, values of inclusion and tolerance, and ultimately a culture of peace.

The volume offers a sweeping introduction to the politics of transition in the four principle nations in the African Great Lakes region.