The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, meeting at its 26th Ordinary Session held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 1-15 November 1999:
Inspired by the principles enshrined in the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights;
Noting with appreciation that all member states of the OAU are parties to the Charter;
Mindful of the fact that States parties to the Charter undertook to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter:
1. Welcomes the commitment of States parties to the promotion and observance of human rights obligations as expressed in the Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action, subsequently endorsed by the 35th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and contained in the Algiers Declaration of July 1999;
2. However noting with regret that the human rights situation in many States continues to cause concern;
3. Welcomes the resumption of democracy in Nigeria and urges the new Nigerian government to speed up the process of repealing all decrees and laws enacted by previous regimes, which violated the Charter;
4. Decides to establish cooperation with the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution as well as the OAU Secretary General’s special representatives in the countries in conflict;
5. Expresses deep concern about the situation in the Great Lakes region, Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as in Sierra Leone;
6. Decides to send a mission to Sierra Leone to seek information about the current situation in Sierra Leone, to undertake dialogue with the existing administrative, political and other structures in the country, and to make recommendations as appropriate.
7. Calls upon the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to halt all hostilities, refrain from the tit-for-tat practice of forced deportations, observe the cease-fire agreement and make the necessary efforts at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict;
8. Calls for the resumption of the Arusha Peace process on Burundi and urges the belligerents to observe the rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter.
9. Furthermore decides to undertake a promotional goodwill visit to Kenya to, among other things, encourage Kenya, which witnessed the adoption of the African Charter in Nairobi on 26 June 1981 and ratified the Charter on 23 January 1992, to submit its initial country report as required by Article 62 of the Charter.
10. Invites NGOs having observer status with the Commission as well as independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, to submit regular written reports on human rights situations in Africa in such a manner as would assist the Commission in the execution of its mandate.
