Final communiqué of the 88th ordinary session of the ACHPR 17 July to 31 July 2026
EN FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 88TH ORDINARY SESSION.pdf
FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 88TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN
COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
Virtual Ordinary Session
(Private)
17 July to 31 July 2026
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission)
convened its 88th Ordinary Session virtually, from 17 to 31 July 2026, in accordance
with Article 64(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African
Charter) and Rule 28(1) of its Rules of Procedure (2020).
2. The Session was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Chairperson
of the Commission, assisted by Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem,
Vice-Chairperson.
3. The following Members of the Commission participated in the 88th Ordinary Session:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow: Chairperson;
Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem: Vice- Chairperson;
Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso;
Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela;
Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu;
Honourable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga;
Honourable Commissioner Dr. Marie Louise Abomo ;
Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie ;
Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo;
Honourable Commissioner Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana; and
Honourable Commissioner Selma Sassi-Safer.
4. During the Session, the Commission considered Communications, Concluding
Observations, Reports and other documents as reflected in this Final Communiqué.
5. The Commission considered and adopted the following decisions concerning
twenty-six (26) Communications:
i.
Five (5) Communications considered on the Merits, with five (5)
decisions adopted on the Merits;
ii.
Nine (9) communications considered on Admissibility, of which one (1)
was declared admissible and eight (8) were declared inadmissible; and
iii.
Twelve (12) Communications were struck out for lack of diligent
prosecution.
6. The Commission considered and adopted the following concluding observations on
the Periodic Reports of States:
i.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Combined
Periodic Report of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) for the
period 2013 - 2025 (Covering the African Charter the Maputo Protocol
and the Kampala Convention); and
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Kenya's 14th
Periodic Report under the African Charter and 2nd Report under the
Maputo Protocol.
ii.
7. The Commission considered and adopted the following documents:
i.
ii.
iii.
Report of the Promotion Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo;
Report of the Promotion Mission to the Central African Republic
Report on the Status of Follow-Up Actions from the 87th Ordinary Session
iv.
v.
Report of the Working Group on Communications; and
Report of the Resolutions Committee.
8. The Commission read and adopted the Report of the Financial and Administrative
Issues.
9. The Commission also reviewed the following documents:
i. Draft Guidelines on Information Integrity and the Responsibilities of
Technology Companies Operating in Africa;
ii. Draft Guidelines on Public Interest Content in the Digital Era; and
iii. Draft of the ACHPR Recommendations Tracking Database System
Guidelines.
10. The following meetings of the ACHPR Administrative and Technical Special
Mechanisms were held:
i.
ii.
iii.
Meeting of the Working Group on Communications;
Meeting of the Working Group on Specific Issues; and
Meeting of the Resolutions Committee.
11. The Commission adopted the following resolutions:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Resolution on the Extension of the Deadline for Development of a General
Comment on the Protection and Promotion of the Right to Environment in
Africa;
Resolution on the Extension of the Deadline for the Completion of the Study
on Digital Violence Against Women's Rights in Africa;
Resolution on the Prohibition of Starvation of Civilians as a Method of
Warfare in Africa; and
Resolution on Countering Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation
(SLAPP) in Africa and the Development of an Anti-SLAPP Model Law – to
v.
be revised to mandate a Study on SLAPPs before proceeding to the
development of a Model Law, and
Resolution on the Designation of His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko,
President of the Republic of Botswana, as the Champion for the Rights of
Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa.
12. The Commission decided to hold its 89th Ordinary Session as follows:
-
Private segment (virtual ): from 21 September to 1 October 2026
Public segment (in-person ): from 12 to 21 October 2026
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Done virtually on the 31st day of July, 2026