Ending impunity and promoting justice and reconciliation reflect core objectives underpinning the African Union. Amid renewed debate about justice and peace on the African continent, this report investigates the issue of impunity and its relationship with peace, justice, reconciliation, and healing.
Contributing to efforts by African and international actors to address these issues, the International Peace Institute and the African Union commissioned a paper from Dr. Comfort Ero, then Director of the South Africa Office of the International Center for Transitional Justice, and Dr. Gilbert Khadiagala, Professor of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. IPI and the AU then convened an expert workshop in Monrovia, Liberia, in May 2009 to consider the consultants’ report, make recommendations for improving it, and propose recommendations for the AU Panel of the Wise.
This report is the outcome of this research, analysis, and deliberation. Originally entitled “Non-Impunity, Truth, Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation in Africa: Opportunities and Constraints,” it was adopted by the Panel of the Wise at its tenth meeting in May 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The report proposes a draft Policy Framework on Transitional Justice for adoption by the relevant organs of the AU and recommends an advocacy role for the Panel of the Wise in promoting and reinforcing guiding principles on the rule of law and transitional justice across the African continent.