The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, meeting in Extraordinary Session from 23 February to 3 March 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia:
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human rights on the African Continent pursuant to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling further its Resolutions: ACHPR / RES.14 (XVI) 94 on the Human Rights Situation in Africa, adopted during its 16th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia from 25 October to 3 November 1994; and ACHPR/Res 55(XXIX) 01 on the Violence in Kabylie, Algeria, adopted at its 29th Ordinary Session held in Tripoli, Libya, from 23 April to 7 May 2001;
Deeply concerned by the human rights violations in North Africa in general and the deterioration of the political and human rights situation in Algeria in particular, following legitimate claims of the population, for greater freedom and better democratic governance;
Concerned by the arbitrary arrests and unconscionable detentions, the sustained suppression of the demonstrations and popular protest movements, the establishment of the curfew and the upsurge of violence in Algeria which gave rise to loss in human lives;
Strongly condemns the excessive and disproportionate use of force to suppress the will for reform and the aspirations to democracy and good governance legitimately expressed by the People of Algeria;
Reminds the Algerian Government that such acts constitute serious violations of the provisions of the African Charter and calls on it to immediately take the necessary measures to guarantee the inalienable rights of Algerian citizens;
Invites the Algerian Government to refrain from all excessive and disproportionate use of force during popular demonstrations and protest movements;
Sanctions the legitimate will and aspiration of the Algerian people for greater democracy, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Invites the Algerian Government to embark on appropriate reforms leading to constructive dialogue comprising of all the major actors in Algerian political life.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 1 March 2011.
