FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 87TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN
COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
BANJUL, REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
24 APRIL TO 20 MAY 2026
1.
Pursuant to Article 64 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
(the African Charter), read together with Rule 27 of its Rules of Procedure (2020),
the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission)
convened its 87th Ordinary Session (the Session). The Session began with a
Private Session held virtually from 24 April to 04 May 2026, followed by an inperson Public Session from 11 to 20 May 2026 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia.
2.
The following members of the Commission participated in the 87th Ordinary
Session:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
The Honorable Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Chairperson;
The Honorable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Vice-Chairperson;
The Honorable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso;
The Honorable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela;
The Honorable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu;
The Honorable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga
(virtually);
The Honorable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo;
The Honorable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie;
The Honorable Commissioner Geereesha Topsy-Sono;
The Honorable Commissioner Litha Musyimi Ogana; and
The Honorable Commissioner Selma Sassi-Safer.
3.
The Session was chaired by Honorable Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Chairperson
of the African Commission, assisted by Honorable Commissioner Hatem
Essaiem, Vice-Chairperson.
4.
During the Private Session, the Commission considered and adopted the
following documents:
i.
ii.
iii.
Report on the follow-up actions of the 86th Ordinary Session;
Report on applications for observer status;
Implementation Plan of the Commission’s Strategic Plan 2026–2028;
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iv.
v.
vi.
2026–2028 Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan of the Commission;
Paper on the Consideration of State reports, modalities, and time allocation;
Tripartite Study on Challenges of Litigating Women’s and Girls’ Human
Rights before African Union Human Rights Organs;
vii. Draft Guidelines on State Reporting under the Protocol to the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons;
viii. Draft Guidelines on State Reporting under the Protocol to the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities in Africa;
ix. Study on the Impact of Climate Change on Human and Peoples’ Rights in
Africa;
x.
Report of the Committee on Resolutions; and
xi. Final Communiqué of the 87th Ordinary Session.
5.
The Commission also considered and adopted the following reports:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
6.
The Commission considered and took note of the following documents:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
7.
Promotion mission to the Republic of Ghana;
Promotion Mission to Republic of Zimbabwe;
Promotion Mission to the Kingdom of Eswatini; and
Joint Fact-Finding Mission on the human rights situation in Sudan,
physically conducted in the Republic of Chad.
Draft revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Special Mechanisms
of the Commission;
Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Urgent Letters of Appeal
and Other Interventions of the Commission;
Draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Development of
Normative and Supplementary Instruments and Strategic Framework on
the Timing and Triggering Supplementary Instruments;
Concept Note for the Continental Program Commemorating the 45th
Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2026)
and the 40th Anniversary of the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights (2027.
The Commission received a presentation on the Electronic Case Management
System.
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8.
The Commission considered thirteen (13) Communications and adopted the
following:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Three (03) Communications on the Merits;
Five (05) Communications on Admissibility, of which one (01) was
declared Admissible and four (04) were declared Inadmissible;
Three (03) Communications on strike out;
One (01) Request for Withdrawal of a Communication. The Commission
took note of the request and decided to close the matter; and
One (01) Request for Review of a Decision on Merits which was rejected.
9.
The Commission adopted the following Country-Specific Resolution:
Resolution on the extension of the mandate of the Joint Fact-Finding Mission on
the human rights situation in the Republic of Sudan.
10.
Furthermore, it adopted the following four (04) Thematic Resolutions:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
11.
Resolution on the situation of human and peoples' rights defenders in
Africa;
Resolution on the extension of the deadline for the completion of the study
assessing the level of compliance of national legislations with the
Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa;
Resolution on the Extension of the Deadline for the Development of
Guidelines on the Protection of the Rights of Workers in the Informal
Economy Sector in Africa; and
Resolution on the Development of Guidelines on the Promotion and
Protection of Human and Peoples’ Rights in the Context of Climate Change.
In accordance with its Resolution on the Criteria for Granting and Maintaining
Observer Status to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working on
human and peoples’ rights in Africa, the Commission granted observer status to
the following eight (8) NGOs:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Fondation Défenseurs d’Afrique ;
West Africa Civil Society Initiative;
Centre d’Assistance et de Promotion des Droits Humains ;
Collectif Cri de Cœur ;
Nyale Institute for Sexual and Reproductive Health Governance;
Association pour la Consolidation de la Paix, le Développement, la
Protection et la promotion des Droits Humains ;
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vii.
viii.
International Society for Peace and Safety; and
Mozambique Bar Association.
12.
The total number of NGOs with Observer Status with the Commission has
reached six hundred (600).
13.
No application for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) affiliate status
was considered at the Session. Thus, the number of NHRIs with affiliate status
with the Commission remains thirty-nine (39).
14.
The Public Session of the 87th Ordinary Session commenced with an opening
ceremony held on 11 May 2026 at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International
Conference Centre in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia. It was officially opened
by H.E. Mr. Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the
Republic of The Gambia and chaired by Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow,
Chairperson of the Commission.
15.
During the opening ceremony, key statements were delivered by the following:
i.
Mr. Sadikh Niass, Adviser to the African Centre for Democracy and
Human Rights Studies, on behalf of the NGO Forum Steering Committee;
ii.
Professor James Mouangue Kobila, Chairperson of the Network of
National Human Rights Institutions;
iii. H.E. Ms. Kajsa Ollengren, European Union Special Representative for
Human Rights;
iv. Mr. Marcel Akpovo, Regional Representative of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for East Africa and to the
African Union, representing H.E. Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights;
v.
Honourable Sabrina Gahar, Chairperson of the African Committee of
Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
vi. Honourable Justice Blaise Tchikaya, President of the African Court on
Human and Peoples’ Rights;
vii. Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Second Vice-President of the PanAfrican Parliament;
viii. H.E. Ambassador Willy Nyamitwe, Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Burundi to the African Union, Chairperson of the Permanent
Representatives Committee of the African Union and Chairperson of its
Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance;
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ix.
x.
xi.
Honourable Idrissa Sow, Chairperson of the African Commission on
Human and Peoples’ Rights;
H.E. Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Chief of Staff representing
H.E. Mr. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union
Commission; and
H.E. Mr. Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the
Republic of The Gambia, on behalf of the host country – the Republic of The
Gambia.
16.
All statements delivered during the opening ceremony are available on the
Commission’s website.
17.
The opening ceremony was followed by the swearing-in of the re-elected
members of the Commission, namely:
i.
ii.
iii.
Honorable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga (virtually);
Honorable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo; and
Honorable Commissioner Litha Musyimi Ogana.
18.
The Commission launched the Commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of the
Adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 40 th
Anniversary of its entry into force.
19.
A total of eight hundred and sixty-seven (867) delegates took part in the Session,
including: two hundred and forty-three (243) representatives of States Parties
from thirty-two (32) countries; twenty (20) representatives of African Union
organs; twenty-two (22) representatives of international and intergovernmental
organizations; fifty-one (51) representatives of National Human Rights
Institutions (NHRIs); three hundred and forty-five (345) representatives of
African and international non-governmental organizations; eighty-four (84)
other observers; thirty-eight (38) representatives of press and media
organizations, and sixty-four (64) members representing the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
20.
The NGO Forum Steering Committee presented the key findings of the NGO
Forum organized ahead of the Session.
21.
Representatives from the following twenty-four (24) States Parties delivered
statements on the human rights situation in their respective countries:
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i. People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria;
ii. Republic of Angola;
iii. Republic of Botswana ;
iv. Republic of Cameroun;
v. Republic of Chad;
vi. Republic of Cote d’Ivoire;
vii. Democratic Republic of Congo;
viii. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
ix. Republic of Equatorial Guinea;
x. State of Eritrea;
xi. Kingdom of Eswatini;
xii. Republic of The Gambia;
xiii. Republic of Kenya;
xiv. Kingdom of Lesotho;
xv. Republic of Malawi;
xvi. Islamic Republic of Mauritania;
xvii. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic;
xviii. Republic of South Africa;
xix. Republic of The Sudan;
xx. United Republic of Tanzania;
xxi. Republic of Tunisia;
xxii. Republic of Uganda;
xxiii. Republic of Zambia; and
xxiv. Republic of Zimbabwe.
22.
Representatives from ten (10) National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) with
affiliate status with the Commission also made statements regarding the human
rights situation in their respective countries.
23.
Representatives of two (2) international organizations also made statements on
the human rights situation in Africa, namely the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Minority Issues and the Representative of the West Africa
Regional Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
24.
Sixty-two (62) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with observer status
with the Commission made statements on the human rights situation in Africa.
25.
During the Session, several panels on various themes were organized with a
view to strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights on the
continent:
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i.
Panel on Compliance Engagement: Removing Reservations to Realize the
Full Potential of the Maputo Protocol;
ii. Joint Panel of the African Commission and UN Independent Fact-Finding
Missions on Sudan, followed by the reading of the Banjul Joint Declaration
on Sudan;
iii. Panel on the AU Theme of the Year 2026: Assuring Sustainable Water
Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems in Africa to Achieve the Goals of
Agenda 2063;
iv. Panel on the Promotion and Protection of Persons belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in Africa: A Recap;
v. Panel on the African Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human
Rights Defenders and their Protection in Africa; and
vi. Panel on Climate change-induced displacement in Africa: Protection
Challenges and Prospects for an African Legal Framework.
26.
The Commission also launched the Framework Paper on the Lifting of
Reservations to Certain Provisions of the Maputo Protocol.
27.
Additionally, it reviewed the status of its relations and cooperation with NHRIs
and NGOs and provided an update on the status of the submission of their
activity reports.
28.
The Commission also reviewed the status of ratification of treaties under its
oversight, as well as the implementation of its decisions and recommendations
by State Parties.
29.
The Commission presented the update on the submission of periodic reports by
States Parties under Article 62 of the African Charter. In this regard, it noted that
seven (7) countries are up to date, five (5) countries are in the review cycle, ten
(10) countries have one overdue report, six (6) have two overdue reports, two (2)
countries have three (3) overdue reports, eighteen (18) countries have more than
three (3) overdue reports, and six (6) countries have not yet submitted their
initial reports.
30.
Following this, the Commission considered the periodic reports of the following
States Parties:
i.
Combined Periodic Report of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (20132025) under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Initial
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ii.
Reports on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples'
Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and the African Union Convention
for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa;
and
14th Periodic Report of the Republic of Kenya on the African Charter on
Human and Peoples' Rights and 2nd Report on the Protocol to the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
31.
Members of the Commission presented their intersession reports highlighting
activities carried out in their capacities as Commissioners, Country Rapporteurs,
and mandate holders under Special Mechanisms. The presentation of these
reports prompted interventions and responses from State delegates, NHRIs, and
NGO representatives.
32.
Finally, the Commission decided to hold its 88th Private Ordinary Session
virtually, from 17 to 31 July 2026. It will also hold its 89th Ordinary Private
Session virtually from 05 to 15 October 2026 and its Public Session from 21 to 30
October 2026, in Dakar, Republic of Senegal.
33.
The Commission expresses its sincere gratitude to the States Parties,
international organizations, NHRIs, NGOs, and all stakeholders who
participated in the Ordinary Session.
34.
In particular, the Commission expresses its profound gratitude to H.E. Mr.
Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia, to the Government,
and to the people of the Republic of The Gambia, for hosting the 87 th Ordinary
Session, as well as for the hospitality and facilities extended to the Commission,
its staff, and the participants in the Session.
35.
The closing ceremony of the 87th Ordinary Session took place on 20 May 2026.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, on 20 May 2026.
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