Virtual Ordinary Session
(Private)
February 23 to March 09, 2026
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) convened its 86th Ordinary Session virtually, from 23 February to 9 March 2026, in accordance with Article 64(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) and Rule 28(1) of its Rules of Procedure (2020), under the chairmanship of Honorable Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Chairperson of the Commission, assisted by Honorable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Vice-Chairperson.
2. The following Members of the Commission participated in the 86th Ordinary Session:
i. Honorable Commissioner Idrissa Sow: Chairperson;
ii. Honorable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem: Vice- Chairperson;
iii. Honorable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso;
iv. Honorable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela;
v. Honorable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu;
vi. Honorable Commissaire Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga;
vii. Honorable Commissioner Dr. Marie Louise Abomo;
viii. Honorable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie;
ix. Honorable Commissaire Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo;
x. Honorable Commissioner Litha Musyimi-Ogana; and
xi. Honorable Commissioner Selma Sassi-Safer.
3. During the Session, the Commission considered Communications, Concluding Observations, Reports and other documents as reflected in the remainder of this Final Communiqué.
4. The Commission considered and adopted the following decisions concerning twenty (20) Communications:
i. Five (5) Communications considered on the Merits, with decisions adopted on the Merits. One (1) Communication on the Merits was deferred to the next session;
ii. Six (6) communications considered on Admissibility, of which five (5) were declared admissible and one (1) was declared inadmissible;
iii. Seven (7) Communications were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution; and
iv. One (1) Communication on the Merits considered for review, which has been declined.
v. One (1) Communication in which the Commission determined that it lacked jurisdiction.
5. The Commission considered and adopted the following concluding observations on the periodic reports of States:
i. Concluding observations on the combined 10th to 18th periodic reports of the Republic of Tunisia under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Maputo Protocol covering the period 2006 to 2024; and
ii. Concluding observations on the combined 18th and 19th periodic reports of the Arab Republic of Egypt under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, covering the period 2019 to 2024.
6. During the session, the Commission considered and adopted the following documents:
i. Report of the Chairperson on the Meetings of the AU Policy Organs;
ii. Report on follow-up actions of the 39th Extra-Ordinary Session;
iii. Advocacy Framework for Withdrawing Reservations on certain provisions to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa;
iv. Calendar of the 2026 Annual Work Plan;
v. Report of the Promotion Mission in the Republic of Burundi;
vi. Paper on the ACHPR’s practice on Actio popularis;
vii. ACHPR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Public Relations;
viii. Report of the Working Group on Communications; and
ix. Report of the Resolutions Committee;
x. Report of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters (ACBSM).
7. The Commission also reviewed the following documents:
i. Implementation Plan for the ACHPR Strategic Plan of the ACHPR 2026-2028;
ii. African Guidelines on Promoting and Harnessing Data Access as a Tool for Advancing Human Rights and Sustainable Development in the Digital Age;
iii. Three-year Monitoring and Evaluation Plan of the ACHPR;
iv. Concept note on the Rebranding of the ACHPR;
v. Paper on the Effective Use of Seizure to Reject Unfounded or Manifestly Inadmissible Communications: Improving Institutional Effectiveness in the Context of the African Commission's Protection Mandate; and
vi. Paper on the establishment of a Support Group for the Working Group Communications (WGC) to monitor the implementation of decisions;
8. The Commission was also briefed on the following:
i. The Joint Fact-Finding Mission on the Human Rights Situation in Sudan to the Republic of Chad; and
ii. The ACHPR's Electronic Case Management System, Data Analytics Tool and other digital tools and processes developed.
9. The following meetings of the ACHPR Administrative and Technical Special Mechanisms were held:
i. Meeting of the Working Group on Communications;
ii. Meeting of the Resolutions Committee; and
iii. Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters.
10. The Commission adopted the following resolutions:
i. Resolution on the Promotion and Protection of Artistic Freedom in Africa and development of a Model Law on Artistic Freedom in Africa;
ii. Resolution on Elections in Africa in 2026;
iii. Resolution on the extension of the mandate on the Development of a Model Law on the Criminalization of Torture in Africa;
iv. Resolution on Access to Information and the Right to a Healthy Environment.
v. Resolution on the Development of Guidelines on the Right to Sanitation in Africa with a specific focus on Women and Girls.
11. The Commission decided to maintain the schedule of its 87th and 89th Ordinary Sessions which have a public segment, as announced on its website on 19th February 2026. These sessions will be held as follows:
i. 87th Ordinary Session :
• Private part (online): 24 April to 04 May 2026
• Public part (in-person session): from 11 May to 20 May 2026.
• Location: To be confirmed
ii. 89th Ordinary Session :
• Private part (online) : from 05 October to 15 October 2026
• Public part (in-person session) : from October 21 to October 30, 2026
• Location: To be confirmed
12. This Final Communiqué was adopted at the end of the Session and is made public in accordance with Rule 27(4) of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission.
Done virtually on March 09, 2026
