THE AFRICAN UNION AND SUB-REGIONAL COURTS AS PATHWAYS TO JUSTICE IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN SOCIETY

This study examined the African Union and sub-regional courts as avenues to attaining justice on the continent of Africa. The wave of decolonisation in Africa in the mid-20th century led to the political independence of most African countries from colonial domination. These new states were soon confronted with persistent structural barriers within the international legal order. The political hegemony of former colonial powers, Western political theatrics, and the structural imbalance in the contemporary international justice instruments have culminated in questioning the validity and effectiveness of the international legal system in addressing Africa’s issues of justice in Africa. This study identified the failure of international legal institutions to address Africa’s unique post-colonial realities, colonial legacy, and political challenges. In response to this, Africa’s states established regional bodies such as the African Union, the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice to effectively administer justice in Africa. This study used a historical and analytical review of regional bodies and their development over the last six decades. Findings of the study revealed that these regional bodies were not formed out of political innovations but were a response to the failure of the global system. These bodies, through their interventions in the administration of justice, human rights, conflict resolution, and democratic governance, have challenged the narrative that Africa’s states are merely passive players in global justice. This study recommended that political commitment, financial support, and coordination of these bodies be enhanced to effectively address justice and stability in Africa.