Reference Guide to Africa’s International Courts An Introduction

Abstract

This reference guide introduces the eight active international courts in Africa.1 Also included is a ninth inactive court, the Arab Maghreb Union’s Judicial Organ. The discussion of the Arab Maghreb Union’s Judicial Organ in this reference guide examines why there has been less judicialization in North Africa relative to other parts of Africa. All of Africa’s active international courts came into existence in the last two and half decades.2 At the end of the Cold War, only a single quasi- judicial adjudicative body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHRP or the Commission) was in existence. These international courts stem from two sources: sub-regional economic integration arrangements and the regional human rights system of the African Union (AU). The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACtHPR or African Court), formed in 2006, is the regional human rights court in Africa.3 It complements the human rights