SPECIALISED ANTI-CORRUPTION COURTS: A MEANS OF PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA?

Abstract

Corruption is inimical to Africa’s quest for socio-economic transformation. Available empirical evidence highlights a sustained increase of corruption globally, with an equal emphasis on interdisciplinary interventions. There are also strong arguments for institutional specialisation in the judicature to buttress anti-corruption initiatives. As a result, specialised anti-corruption courts (SACCs) quickly are gaining traction in Africa, at the expense of conventional courts. This paper examines the rationale for SACCs and the variegated institutional SACC design choices by providing an overview of selected African countries. It highlights the position of these courts within the criminal justice system, their size and composition, their jurisdiction and, where relevant, synergies with other complementary institutions. In the main, SACCs provide much needed efficiency, integrity and expertise in the criminal justice system. The paper also examines challenges which SACCs encounter in Africa. Lastly, it provides a brief discussion of calls for an International Anti-Corruption Court.