scholarly journals Leadership Effectiveness, Truth Commissions and Democratization in Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-130
Author(s):  
Chux Gervase Iwu
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Transformative Leadership ◽  
Truth Commissions ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
National Reconciliation

This paper explores the significance of transformational and political leadership in strengthening the capacities of truth commissions as effective mechanisms for democratization in transitional polities. First, the paper sets out to trace some of the conflicting goals and political compromises that attend to the establishment of truth commissions in Africa as well as lack of political will on the part of political leadership. The paper then identifies and discusses major problems that confront the institutionalization of truth commissions as veritable instruments of post-conflict transformation and democratic consolidation in the continent. Drawing insights from South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, the paper argues that national reconciliation processes in Africa are characterized by a paradigm shift from the primary concern of leadership choices to those of justice, truth-seeking, granting of amnesty and forgiveness. In conclusion, the paper stresses the role of transformative leadership as crucial to enhancing the capacities of truth commissions in consolidating democracy in post-conflict states.

scholarly journals Examining the Role of Economic Actors in Post-war Reintegration Processes: Case of Sierra Leone.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 158-167
Author(s):  
MaryAnne Iwara
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Planning Strategy ◽  
Social Contracts ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Aid Dependency ◽  
Post War ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
National Governments

This paper examines post-conflict peacebuilding activities in Sierra Leone by critically looking at the role of economic actors in the reintegration process of its post-war Disarmament Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) initiative. The civil war that lasted for 11 years in Sierra Leone, put doubts on the national governments ability to effectively provide both victims and perpetuators, the necessary protection and assistance needed to fully assume responsibilities within the communities. Because of this, poverty was further entrenched, thereby increasing the countries susceptibility to return to conflict. Though reintegration processes are continuous, integrative and involve exhaustive budgetary commitments, the process, in Sierra Leone was short-termed, not well coordinated and took time to begin delivering. With the United Nations, World Bank and the weak national government leading the process, financing was often insufficient or late, in combination with the lack of a coherent planning strategy; all these factors contributed to lapses in socio-economic profiling, skills and vocational training and spread disillusionment and resentment among ex-combatants and victims. Using content analysis, the paper argues that, post-war countries need active, equitable and profitable economic sectors if they are to graduate from conflict and from post-conflict aid-dependency. Moreover, as social contracts and corporate social responsibility to communities they govern and operate in, economic actors must create enabling environments and, generate jobs to support legitimate local capacities. The utility of this paper lies in the idea that for any post-conflict country to attain long-term social and economic development, reintegration programme design and activities, must holistically incorporate critical economic actors.  

Toward Greater Synergy between Courts and Truth Commissions in Post-conflict Contexts

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Chernor Jalloh
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Truth Commissions ◽  
Truth Commission ◽  
Complementary Relationship ◽  
International Crimes ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
The World ◽  
Working Method

After a brutal civil war (1991–2002), Sierra Leone became the first country to experiment with simultaneously having a truth commission and a special criminal tribunal. The former, to which Bill Schabas was appointed international commissioner, sought to create an impartial historical record of the human rights violations perpetrated during the conflict and to promote healing and reconciliation. The latter aimed to address impunity, through prosecution of those most responsible for grave international crimes committed during the latter part of the war. This chapter examines the challenge that the two separate institutions, each with its unique mandate and working method, faced in their interactions with each other. It argues that the truth commission and special court’s attempt to forge a complementary relationship was largely unsuccessful because of structural and other factors. The author identifies key lessons of the Sierra Leone experiment for future transitions in Africa and around the world.

scholarly journals Restorative Justice in Transitional Sierra Leone

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Apori Nkansah
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Transitional Justice ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Truth Commissions ◽  
Truth Telling ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
Sierra Leonean ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
The People ◽  
Conflict Reconciliation

Intense debate surrounds truth commissions as to their mission, perceived roles and outcomes. This paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of truth commissions in post-conflict settings. It examines the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for Sierra Leone, the first truth commission to be engaged concurrently with a retributive mechanism, the Special Court for Sierra Leone for transitional justice. The study finds that the TRC provided an opening for conversation in Sierra Leonean communities to search for the meanings of truth about the conflict. In this way the communities simultaneously created an understanding of the situation and set reconciliation directions and commitment from the process of creative conversation.  This notwithstanding, the TRC did not have the needed public cooperation because the people were not sure the war was over and feared that their assailants could harm them if they disclosed the truth to the TRC. The presence of the Special Court also created tensions and fears rendering the transitional environment unfriendly to the reconciliation and truth telling endeavors of the TRC. The study has implications for future truth commissions in that the timing for post-conflict reconciliation endeavors should take into consideration the state of the peace equilibrium of the societies involved. It should also be packaged for harmonious existence in a given transitional contexts, particularly where it will coexist with a retributive mechanism.

Rereading Violence and Trauma in Post-Conflict Societies: Aminatta Forna’s Happiness

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (03) ◽  
pp. 400-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Cole
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
New Hypothesis

Happiness explores the themes of violence and trauma as one of its fundamental concerns. In this regard, the character and role of Dr. Attila Asare, a Ghanaian psychiatrist, is crucial to understanding Forna’s theorizations on trauma and advancement of a new hypothesis on its manifestations and possibilities of recovery. In laying the foundation for the articulation of his new theory of trauma, Attila gives us a window into violence in two different geographical settings: Bosnia in the winter of 1995 and Sierra Leone in 1995. It is significant that both wars occurred at about the same time and that they were both notorious for the nature and extent of the carnage that characterize them.

Civil War and Democracy in West Africa: Conflict Resolution Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia by David Harris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mudassar Javaid
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Civil War ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Transitional Justice ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Criminal Court ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Local Actors

In the book titled Civil War and Democracy in West Africa: Conflict Resolution Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia, author David Harris comprehensively exemplifies how in the twenty-first century, elections are viewed and used as determinants in post-conflict settings. The author builds on the aforementioned argument while generally tracing the development of conflict resolution in Africa during the post-Cold War era, but while dedicating distinct attention to such developments in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Through the case studies of the two West African states i.e. Sierra Leone and Liberia, the author critically analyzes the emphasize accorded to the role of elections as the core of conflict termination and how the failure to participate in elections leaves states consequences which are completely uncalled for. The author lays substantial stress on questioning the role of the international community in strengthening the significance of post-conflict elections and conceptions of transitional justice, especially the emergence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) generally, alongside the emergence of ad hoc hybrid systems such as the Sierra Leone Special Court (SLSC) particularly. The author does not just illustrate a vivid picture of the literature on contemporary conflict resolution more broadly but does so specifically in relation to the African continent and the emergence of the new war notion in respect of Africa's various intra-state conflicts. Harris, in this account also provides a detailed portrayal of thematic considerations and developments in relation to the conflict in Africa, exploring the ideas of ethnicity and motivation such as greed vs grievance debate. Although the main focus of this book is conflict resolution and democratization, the study of elections as the converging point which serves as the intersection of local actors, international bodies and post-conflict elections constitutes the central thematic underpinning of the book.

The role of decentralisation in post-conflict reconstruction in Sierra Leone

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 799-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Nickson ◽  
Joel Cutting
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Post Conflict

General Introduction

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 8-17
Author(s):  
Fredline A.O. M’Cormack-Hale ◽  
Josephine Beoku-Betts
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Birth Attendants ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Post War ◽  
Democracy Building

Although much has been written on many different aspects of post-conflict reconstruction, democracy building, and the role of the international community in Sierra Leone, there is no definitive publication that focuses on exploring the ways in which various interventions targeted at women in Sierra Leone have resulted in socio-economic and political change, following the Sierra Leone civil war. This special issue explores the multi-faceted subject of women’s empowerment in post-war Sierra Leone. Employing a variety of theoretical frameworks, the papers examine a broad range of themes addressing women’s socio-economic and political development, ranging from health to political participation, from paramount chiefs and parliamentarians to traditional birth attendants and refugees. An underlying argument is that post-war contexts provide the space to advance policies and practices that contribute to women’s empowerment. To this end, the papers examine the varied ways in which women have individually and collectively responded to, shaped, negotiated, and been affected by national and international initiatives and processes.

Part II The Right to Know, B Commissions of Inquiry, Principle 12 Advisory Functions of the Commissions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robinson Isabel ◽  
Varney Howard
Keyword(s):  
Historical Background ◽  
Truth Commissions ◽  
Right To Know ◽  
Essential Dimension ◽  
Truth Telling ◽  
Political Will ◽  
The Right To Know ◽  
Commissions Of Inquiry ◽  
The Right

Principle 12 deals with the advisory functions of truth commissions. The advisory function of truth commissions is one of the most concrete ways that they can achieve their goals of helping rebuild society and prevent further violence. Such function is an essential dimension of the forward-looking dimension of truth-telling and truth-seeking processes. In particular, it enables truth commissions to pay attention to the experiences and role of women in transitioning societies, as well as to intersect with others measures aimed at combating impunity, including reparations and criminal prosecutions. This chapter first provides a contextual and historical background on Principle 12 before discussing its theoretical framework and how the recommendations of truth commissions have been implemented. It also highlights some of the key challenges involved in the implementation of a commission’s recommendations, noting that the failure to implement recommendations is often the result of a lack of political will.

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