Arusha, 28 May 2025: The President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR/the Court), Honourable Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, today paid a courtesy call on the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The visit coincides with the final days of her four-year tenure as President of the Court, set to conclude on 2 June 2025.
Their discussions centred on the Court’s key jurisprudential and institutional achievements since its establishment. Justice Aboud highlighted the pressing need for stronger cooperation from AU Member States to ensure the Court’s continued effectiveness.
She stressed that the ongoing African Union reform process must incorporate human rights as a fundamental consideration across all programmes, policies, and strategic priorities.
In this regard, she advocated for the systematic integration of human rights into all Union initiatives, including peace and security, trade, climate action, and both bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
Justice Aboud also outlined some of the key challenges hindering the Court’s work, such as the limited number of ratifications of the Court’s Protocol, currently 34 out of 55 AU Member States, and the fact that only seven (7) of those have deposited the declaration under Article 34(6), which allows individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court.
In response, the Chairperson commended the African Court’s vital role in advancing human rights on the continent and called on Member States that have not yet ratified and domesticated the Protocol establishing the Court to do so without delay.
Justice Aboud also extended an invitation to the Chairperson to visit the African Court in 2026, a milestone year marking the 20th anniversary of the Court’s operationalisation. She proposed that the visit coincide with the Opening of the 2026 Judicial Year, which may align with the inauguration and official handover of the Court’s new permanent premises. Also present at the meeting were Dr Robert Eno, Registrar of the Court; Professor Hajer Gueldich, Legal Counsel of the African Union; and other senior officials from both institutions.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
- The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) is a continental court established by African countries to ensure the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.
- The Court is an organ of the African Union and it complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
- The Court is composed of eleven Judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity.
- The Court meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions.
Further information on the Court can be obtained from
www.african-court.org Telephone: +255 272 510 510
For further inquiries: Dr Robert Eno, Registrar – Robert.Eno@african-court.org
For media inquiries: Chipiliro Kansilanga – Senior Information & Communication Officer Chipiliro.Kansilanga@african-court.org or AfricanCourtMedia@african-court.org
