Beyond Guns: NHRC Proposes Justice-Centered Roadmap For Peace In Africa

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for a shift from military-centric responses to a holistic, justice-driven model to tackle insecurity and economic instability in Africa.

This was contained in a paper presented at the 2026 African Bar Association Conference in Cape Verde, themed “Resilient Africa’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development.”

The paper, titled “Legal Mechanisms to Ensure Access to Justice in Regions Affected by Security Threats,” uses the North-East insurgency and Benue farmer-herder crisis as case studies, according to a statement by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, NHRC Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages.

It identifies critical gaps: non-justiciable socio-economic rights under Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, non-binding African Commission decisions, restrictive access to the African Court under Article 34(6), and the punitive focus of the Terrorism Act 2022.

It links terrorism and rural conflicts to poverty, 28.8% youth unemployment, marginalization and weak governance. NHRC data showed 530 cases of denied food and shelter, 195 cases of gender-based violence, 324 barriers to education, and 1,850 IDPs in Benue alone.

On interventions, the Commission cited monitoring of Kainji terrorism trials in 2024 where it observed due process gaps, and its Transitional Justice Programme in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe with EU/UNDP support. It has resolved 372 cases, referred 1,157 and held 331 outreaches in IDP camps.

On the SIIP North-East investigation, the paper clarified that no evidence was found of a systematic abortion of 10,000 pregnancies, but confirmed the military attack on Abisari community on 18 June 2016 that killed 18 people, recommending compensation and prosecution.

The paper also referenced ECOWAS Court judgments in suits ECW/CCJ/APP/11/16 and ECW/CCJ/APP/16/18 ordering Nigeria to investigate Benue killings and redress victims.

To close the justice gap, it proposes a 4-pillar model: enforceable socio-economic rights, specialized mobile Conflict Resolution Courts, recognition of ADR and traditional mechanisms, and a National Dignity Fund for reparations.

It recommends constitutional amendment, establishment of special courts, ratification of the African Court declaration, and implementation of ECOWAS and SIIP decisions.

The Commission stressed that resilient development is impossible without resilient legal institutions.