This chapter examines cases in the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) arising from the protracted and systemic abuses of human rights in Burundi. It argues that the EACJ’s role in accepting and deciding cases arises in large part from the ongoing conflict and authoritarian governance in Burundi and the absence of transitional justice mechanisms. In so doing, this chapter dovetails with other chapters in this book that show how litigants resort to Africa’s sub-regional courts when national institutions perform sub-optimally in addressing their needs. The cases from Burundi are exceptional examples of resorting to Africa’s sub-regional courts. The EACJ is a powerful transitional justice mechanism by providing a forum for truth and attention to be brought to issues arising from Burundi’s ongoing conflict and authoritarian governance. This chapter also demonstrates how these cases have been used to galvanize resistance outside of Burundi against continued authoritarian rule in Burundi.
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