Final Communiqué of the 38th Extraordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Virtual session
September 19, 2025
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) held its 38th Extraordinary Session, virtually, on 19 September 2025.
2. The Session was chaired by the Honorable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the Commission, assisted by the Honorable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Vice-Chairperson.
3. The following members of the Commission participated in the session:
i. The Honorable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, President;
ii. The Honorable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Vice-President;
iii. The Honorable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem;
iv. The Honorable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela;
v. The Honorable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga;
vi. Honorable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo;
vii. The Honorable Commissioner Geereesha Topsy-Soono
viii. The Honorable Commissioner Idrissa Sow;
ix. Honorable Commissioner Litha Musyimi Ogana; and
x. The Honorable Commissioner Selma Sassi-Safer.
4. The Honorable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso was absent with apologies.
5. The special session dealt with both technical and organizational issues.
6. Regarding technical matters, the Commission considered and adopted the proposed terms of reference of the Pre-Session Forum of States Parties. It also examined the document on the Proposed Grounds for the Seizure of the African Court by the Commission. Comments aimed at improving the document were made by the Commission ahead of its adoption at the next session.
7. Regarding organizational issues, the Commission deliberated on the need to align the dates of the virtual private segment of the 85th Ordinary Session with the participation of its members in the pre-session forums of States Parties, NGOs and NHRIs.
8. In addition, the Commission had a briefing on its meetings and its promotion mission scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, in September 2025.
9. Finally, the Commission deliberated on several pressing issues, including the finalization and publication of the report of its Joint Fact-Finding Mission on the situation of human rights in Sudan.
10. The Commission will hold its 85th Ordinary Session, commencing with the private segment to be held virtually from 7 to 15 October 2025 and followed by the public segment to be held in-person, from 21 to 30 October 2025, in Banjul, The Gambia.
Done virtually on September 19, 2025
