Togo is preparing to host, from September 7 to 9, Act 6 of the African Union (AU) forum on the state of transitional justice in Africa. For the success of the event, a mission from the AU Commission and the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) stayed from August 15 to 20 in Lomé. This mission had working sessions with the High Commission for Reconciliation and Strengthening of National Unity (HCRRUN) and the interministerial committee, which made it possible to harmonize the various points contained in the project for the organization of the said forum. All the meetings were chaired by the president of the institution, Ms. Awa Nana-Daboya.
The sixth African Union (AU) forum on the state of transitional justice in Africa will take place from September 7 to 9, 2022 in Lomé, with a view to strengthening the mechanisms and practices of transitional justice in States that opted for this form of justice. To this end, the choice of Togo by the AU Commission does not come out of nowhere. It is justified by the work, experience and expertise in implementing the recommendations of the CVJR in general and the reparations program in particular. The Togolese experience in transitional justice echoes and can become a textbook case for several countries on the continent, hence the need to hold this forum to share the achievements.
To successfully organize the work of this forum on the theme ” Transitional justice and social capital in Africa”, a mission from the AU Commission and the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) exchanged with the High Commissioner for Reconciliation and Strengthening National Unity (HCRRUN) and members of the interministerial committee on practical matters. The discussions focused in particular on the adoption of the draft program, questions relating to logistics, the concept note of the forum, the COVID-19 protocols with the participants (nearly two hundred).
In addition, the members of this delegation were enlightened on the content of the strategy of the process of reparations for victims, as well as on the results illustrated through testimonies.
At the end of their stay, last Friday, the members of the mission expressed their gratitude to the Togolese authorities for the facilities that the participants will benefit from. They welcomed this openness which will allow the continent to gain with the Togolese experience in transitional justice and psycho-medical care for victims of violence, for forgiveness and lasting social peace.
« The purpose of our visit is to plan the organization of the sixth forum on transitional justice in Africa. Two entities (the AU and CSVR) worked for the organization of this meeting. Thanks to Togo’s experience and efforts in transitional justice, we decided to hold this forum in Lomé. For five days, we had fruitful discussions with the HCRRUN and the interministerial committee, to analyze the necessary aspects, for the success of this important foundation”, said the head of mission, Mr. John Ikubaje.
This upcoming forum remains an annual multi-stakeholder platform, aimed at examining the state of transitional justice in Africa. One of the main objectives of this transitional justice is to promote peace and reconciliation, to ensure guarantees of non-recurrence and to prevent the occurrence of future conflicts, by addressing the root causes of these conflicts. To achieve this, the AU’s transitional justice policy is to work, by providing guidance to Member States, on how to recover from protracted violent conflicts, while consolidating peace, strengthening democratic governance and making advance socio-economic development.
Jules LEMOU