The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 75th Ordinary Session, held from 3 to 23 May 2023, in Banjul, the Gambia:
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples' rights in Africa, under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights;
Considering the correspondence of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, dated 16 March 2021, informing the Commission of the willingness expressed by the Government of Ethiopia to engage the Commission to undertake investigations jointly with the Ethiopian National Human Rights Commission, into the ongoing crisis in the Tigray Region, at the meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, held on 9 March 2021, and inviting the Commission to consider a self -initiated investigation;
Recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res. 482 (EXT.OS/XXXII) 2021 on the Fact-Finding Mission to the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
Further Recalling Resolutions ACHPR/Res. 487 (EXT.OS/XXXIV) 2021; ACHPR/Res. 494 (LXIX) 2021, ACHPR/Rés. 512(LXX) 2022; ACHPR/Res. 521 (LXXII) 2022 and ACHPR/Res.549 (EXT.OS/ XXXVI)2023, renewing the Mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and ACHPR/Res.518 (LXXI) Resolution on the Renewal of the Mandate and Expansion of the Composition of the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
Welcoming the signing of the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), on 2nd November 2022, in Pretoria, the Republic of South Africa;
Further Welcoming the measures taken by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to adopt an inclusive and comprehensive national transitional justice policy, centered on accountability, truth seeking, redress for victims, and reconciliation and healing, in line with the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the African Union’s (AU) 2019 Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP);
Considering the positive developments in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, particularly in restoring peace and security, reconciliation, disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation, and the designing of a transitional justice policy to ensure accountability;
Recognizing the importance of the national processes put in place by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to address the situation in the country and ensure accountability and redress for reported cases of human rights violations in the Tigray region, which offer prospects for a national, inclusive and sustainable approach to addressing the situation in the country and taking adaptive measures;
The Commission:
1.Decides to terminate the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, effective from 23rd May 2023;
2.Decides to support, once established, the transitional justice process which will allow the consolidation of peace and reconciliation in the country and, on the basis of the principle of responsibility, will help the victims to obtain reparation;
3.Urges the Ethiopian authorities and the PTLF to respect and effectively implement the 2022 Agreement, and to take the necessary measures to preserve stability, and peace and security in the country, especially in the Tigray Region, through constructive dialogue and consensus.
4.Urges both parties to take the necessary steps to preserve stability, peace and security and respect for human rights in the country, particularly in the Tigray Region, through constructive dialogue and consensus;
5.Continues to monitor the general human rights situation in the country
Done in Banjul, on 23rd May 2023.
