Press Release on the election of a New Bureau, and allocation of special mechanisms and States Parties among the Members of the Commission

During the 61^st Ordinary Session, which took place from 01 to 15 November 2017, in Banjul, The Gambia, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) was joined by three new Commissioners, Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela and Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, who were sworn in on 01 November 2017. Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel was also sworn in for a second term.

Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maiga was elected as Chairperson and Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute was elected as Vice-Chairperson. Together the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson form the Bureau of the Commission and will serve for a period of two (2) years.

During the Private Session a reallocation of mandates in terms of Special Mechanisms and Countries of responsibility took place as follows:

Commissioner Soyata Maiga (Chairperson)

Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV;

Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Angola, Congo–Brazzaville, Niger, DRC.

Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute (Vice-Chairperson)

Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Zambia, Botswana.

Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie

Chairperson of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Algeria, Chad, Senegal, Benin, Central African Republic.

Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor

Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone.

Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen

Chairperson of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Burundi, Lesotho.

Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel

Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Burkina Faso, Egypt, Mauritania, Tunisia, Mali.

Commissioner Jamesina E.L. King

Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: The Gambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Swaziland.

Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso

Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Kenya, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan.

Commissioner Hatem Essaiem

Chairperson of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Djibouti, Sudan, Mauritius, Libya, Somalia.

Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela

Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde.

Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu

Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;

Countries of responsibility: Guinea Conakry, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Togo, Gabon.

Banjul, 21 November 2017