Abstract

This study examines how survivor memoirs act as forms of justice in the aftermath of mass violence and the failure of formal transitional mechanisms. Focusing on Tears in the Desert by Halima Bashir, it explores how life writing bears witness to gendered violence and displacement, transforming personal trauma into collective ethical and political critique. Drawing on feminist trauma theory and transitional justice discourse, the study argues that the memoir challenges the limits of institutions like the International Criminal Court by articulating survivor-centered visions of justice. Through close textual analysis, it shows how Bashir reimagines justice as affective, relational, and rooted in memory and healing. The study highlights the gendered silences in institutional responses and argues that memoirs enact a radical politics of witnessing that redefines justice after atrocity.

Original language	ng
Pages (from-to)	165-186
Publication status	Published - 2026