The Potential Benefits and Legal Basis of the Participation of amicus curiae in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

Abstract Amicus curiae sometimes known as friend of court, is a volunteer who consults and directs courts on cases believed to be very ambiguous and complex and thereby help court to render the case at hand. It can be said that amicus curiae is a means to assist the justice system where courts are at difficulty to determine complex cases. However, the modus operandi of amicus curiae is not clearly and comprehensively regulated by both domestic and regional human rights instruments. This article tries to explore whether amicus curiae legally exists in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the means of enforcement, its status and the value of using amicus curiae in human rights litigation in Africa