By Francis Ameyibor, GNA
Tema, July 25, GNA – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has affirmed the country’s willingness to ratify the Protocol recognizing the African Court as a continental court established by African countries to ensure the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.
The African Court complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Somali President who was in Arusha, Tanzania for the East Africa Countries Heads of State Summit called on the African Court President where he made the declaration.
President Mohamud pledged the Government of Somalia’s readiness to ratify the protocol.
Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President of the African Court after their cordial meeting commended the Somali President and the Government for the effort to ratify the protocol.
Lady Justice Aboud on behalf of the African Court presented a plaque to President Mohamud as a token of appreciation.
She explained that the African Court established by pursuant to Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, (the Protocol) was adopted by Member States of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in June 1998.
The Protocol came into force on January 25, 2004.
The 33 States which have ratified the Protocol are: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Libya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Niger, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda.
To date, only eight of the 33 State Parties to the Protocol have deposited the declaration recognizing the competence of the African Court to receive cases directly from NGOs and individuals.
The eight States are: Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Malawi, Niger and Tunisia.
The African Court is composed of 11 judges who are nationals of Member States of the African Union.
The Judges are elected for a six-year term, renewable once.
GNA
