Update African Court

The coalition for an effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights provides an update from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The members of the Court met in Arusha from 17 - 28 September. They discussed their Rules of Procedure which are yet to be finalised.

The Court is presently operating from the Arusha International Conference Centre. The government of Tanzania is has identified property which will become the permanent location of the Court elsewhere in Arusha. Positions for registrar, legal officers, translators and interpertors have been advertised on the African Union website (http://www.africa-union.org).

The members of the Court are: Fatsah Ouguergouz (Algeria); Gerard Niyungeko (Burundi—and president ); Modibo Tounty Gouindo (Mali—deputy president); El Hadji Guisse (Senegal); George Kanyiehamba (Uganda); Bernard Ngoepe (South Africa); Jean Emile Somda (Burkina Faso); Hamdi Faraj Fanoush (Libya); kelle Justina Mafoso-Guni (Lesotho); Sophia Akuffo (Ghana).

Progress on the single legal instrument establishing the African Court on Human Rights and Justice

The African Union is yet to finalise the draft single legal instrument establish the above court, which integrates the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court of Justice (the protocol establishing this court is not in force). A decision was taken in 2004 to integrate the courts following a concern raised on the lack of sufficient resources to fund Africa’s institutions. Two meetings were held since that decision resulting in the draft single legal instrument.

Minister of Justice/Attorney’s General and member of the Permanent Representatives Committee of the African Union are to meet in Arusha in early November 2007 to finalise the document.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will be meeting for its 42nd session in Brazzaville, the Congo from 14 - 28 November. This year marks the 20th year of the Commission’s existence and the 25th year of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Algeria, Tunisia and Rwanda ar to present their state reports to the Commission at its 42nd session.

The commissioners are: Pansy Tlakula (South Africa); Bahame Nyanduga (Tanzania); Mumba Malila (Zambia); Sanji Monageng (Botswana); Angela Melo (Mozambique); Musa Bitaye (The Gambia); Reine Alapini Gansou (Benin); Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen (Mauritius); Catherine Dupe Atoki (Nigeria); Soyata Maiga (Mali); Zainabu Sylvie Kayatesi (Rwanda).

The Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The Coalition, which was formed as a loose network to advocate for an effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is now registered in Tanzania. It will be setting up a secretariat in Arusha from where it will be functioning.

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