Policy Brief: Justice Is Infrastructure: The Overlooked Foundation of Stability and Economic Growth

Across Africa, and especially in the Sahel and parts of Central Africa, a vicious circle is tightening: weak justice systems fuel instability, instability suppresses economic activity, and economic decline further erodes justice institutions. Each step reinforces the next, trapping societies in a state of self-perpetuating fragility.

This loop is no longer theoretical. Since 2020, coups and the expansion of violent extremist organisations (VEOs) in the region have accelerated, alongside deteriorating rule of law and shrinking economic opportunity. Yet while large-scale investment by businesses has stalled, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain embedded in local economies. The latter are the most exposed to justice failures.

This policy brief, which draws on field observations, comparative case studies, legal needs data and governance data, argues that justice should be treated not only as a legal or human-rights issue, but as core economic and stability infrastructure. Where justice is fast, fair and accessible, SMEs grow, trust in institutions increases and the recruitment space for armed actors shrinks. Where justice fails, grievances compound, informal and violent alternatives fill the vacuum and instability deepens.

The policy window to reverse this trajectory is narrowing, as fragile regions move from a short democratic opening into a prolonged period of instability. Treating justice as infrastructure offers a practical pathway to spark change and break the cycle.