FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 84th (PRIVATE) ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
VIRTUAL SESSION, 21st – 30th July 2025
1. In accordance with Article 64(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (the African Charter), read with Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure (2020), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) held its 84th Ordinary Session (Private) virtually from 21st to 30th July 2025.
2. The Session was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the Commission, assisted by Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Vice-Chairperson.
3. The following Members of the Commission participated in the Session:
i. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson;
ii. Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Vice-Chairperson;
iii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso;
iv. Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem;
v. Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela;
vi. Honourable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga;
vii. Honourable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo;
viii. Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo;
ix. Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow;
x. Honourable Commissioner Litha Musyimi-Ogana; and
xi. Honourable Commissioner Selma Sassi Safer.
4. The Commission considered and adopted decisions relating to fifteen (15) Communications, as follows:
i. Three (3) Communications on Merits;
ii. Nine (9) Communications on Admissibility, of which five (5) were found admissible, while four (4) were found inadmissible; and
iii. Three (3) Communications were struck out for want of diligent prosecution.
5. The Commission considered and adopted the following Concluding Observations on States’ Periodic Reports:
i. Concluding Observations on the 16th Periodic Report of the Republic of Zimbabwe; and
ii. Concluding Observations on the 7th to 10th Periodic Report of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
6. The Commission deliberated on the following:
i. Outcomes of the Joint Retreat between the Commission and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court);
ii. Complementarity Between the Commission and the Court;
iii. Draft ACHPR Strategic Plan 2026–2028;
iv. New formats of ACHPR Sessions;
v. Briefing on the Harmonization of State Reporting by AGA/APSA Secretariat; and
vi. Conditions and criteria for seizure of the Court by the Commission.
7. The Commission deliberated and adopted the following:
i. Declaration of the 2nd Joint Forum of Special Mechanisms;
ii. Chairperson’s Report on the 2025 Mid-Year Summit; and
iii. Report of the virtual Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan.
8. The following meetings of the ACHPR Administrative and Technical Special Mechanisms were held:
i. Meeting of the Resolutions Committee; and
ii. Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Staff and Budgetary Matters
9. The Commission adopted the following Resolutions:
i. Resolution on the need to undertake a study on the review of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa
ii. Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in the United Republic of
Tanzania; and
iii. Resolution on the ongoing mass atrocities in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare.
10. The Commission deferred the adoption of the Resolution on AU Theme for 2025 to the 85th Ordinary Session.
11. The Commission decided to hold its 85th Ordinary Session as follows:
- Virtual private Session from 7 to 17 October 2025.
- Public Session from 21 to 30 October 2025.
Done on 30th July 2025, in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia.
