Transitional Justice in Africa Armed Conflicts: Examining the Limits of the United Nations SDG 16 in Delivering Accountability and Sustainable Peace

Abstract

Transitional justice has emerged as a cornerstone for addressing the legacies of armed conflict, promoting accountability, reconciliation, and institutional reform in post-conflict societies. Despite its widespread adoption, the effectiveness and limitations of these mechanisms remain unevenly understood in African contexts. This study examines transitional justice in Rwanda and Sierra Leone within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), focusing on how judicial and non-judicial processes contribute to durable peace and governance. The research is theoretically anchored in Liberal Peace Theory, which underscores the role of democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights in sustaining peace, and Institutional Governance Theory, which emphasizes the critical role of institutional capacity, legitimacy, and structural conditions in the successful implementation of justice initiatives. Using a qualitative case-study methodology, the study analyzes legal frameworks, regional and international instruments, and socio-political factors shaping transitional justice processes. Findings reveal that while transitional justice has advanced accountability, strengthened institutions, and facilitated reconciliation, its transformative potential is constrained by political interference, resource limitations, and uneven implementation. The study concludes that integrating transitional justice with broader governance, socio-economic, and institutional reforms is essential to achieving sustainable peace. By linking theory, practice, and SDG 16, this research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of transitional justice’s potential and limitations in African post-conflict settings.