The Role of Transitional Justice in Resolving the Somali and South Sudan Conflicts
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Date
2017Author
Kodhek, Samantha, A
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In order to achieve accountability for past injustice, provide redress for victims and move from
conflict to peace, the concept of transitional justice has become indispensable in global postconflict
states, and perhaps more importantly in Africa. In recent times, transitional justice has
paved the way from repression to democracy. However, there has been some criticism emerging
as to the ability and effectiveness of the transitional justice instruments previously applied in
Africa and whether these mechanisms are able to offer justice, peace and lasting reconciliation.
The common thread running through the criticisms has been that despite the use of transitional
justice, the mechanisms applied to African states have not been able to either completely address
past injustices or foster complete reconciliation leading to an inability to truly move past the
conflict. This study provides an assessment of some of the criticism directed at transitional justice
mechanisms previously applied in Africa, for instance for their disregard of some elements of
tradition given the push by international actors. As a result, it aims to provide an understanding of
where critics have stated that the mechanisms have failed. By so doing, it aims at providing a better
understanding of how transitional justice can be applied in Somalia and South Sudan – two of
Africa’s most recent and notorious post-conflict states.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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