Elections in Africa are competitive in nature and can be manipulated by incumbents to extend and entrench their rule through changes to constitutions, intimidation of opponents, excess use of police force and, in some cases, assassinations of dissident voices. Ethnic cleavages are also exploited by contestants to incite and mobilize unsuspecting masses to pursue their electoral ambitions which can lead to political instability. In many African countries, violence before, during and after elections has become a regrettable norm rather than the exception. The function of transitional justice is to address the legacy of human rights atrocities, political violence and societal harm resulting from prior misrule or violent conflicts, with a view to establishing fair, democratic and inclusive societies.
Author(s): Elias O. Opongo, Tim Murithi
Series: Europa Perspectives in Transitional Justice
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 202
City: London
Cover
Endorsements
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
The editors and contributors
Introduction
1. Election financing and violence: Implications for
transitional justice in Nigeria, Kenya and Sierra Leone
2. The media and electoral violence in Kenya and
Nigeria: Holding journalists accountable in transitional justice processes
3. Electoral systems, election outcomes and legal
frameworks: Challenges to transitional justice processes in South Sudan, Rwanda and Uganda
4. Youth and electoral violence in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Establishing political accountability in transitional justice contexts
5. Women in politics: Gender, security and transitional justice in electoral processes in Africa
6. Electoral observation and transitional justice in Southern Africa: A comparative analysis of Zimbabwe and Angola
7. The International Criminal Court and electoral justice in Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire
8. Transitional justice and the mitigation of electoral violence through the Amani Mashinani model in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
9. Electoral processes as platforms for transitional justice: Rethinking governance systems in Africa
Conclusion: Elections, transitional justice and the way forward
Index
