FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 85th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS (ACHPR)

ACHPR

Human Rights our Collective Responsibility

FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 85th ORDINARY SESSION

OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS (ACHPR)

BANJUL, THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA 07 TO 15 OCTOBER 2025 and 21 TO 30 OCTOBER 2025

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1. In accordance with Article 64 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), read in conjunction with Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) (2020), the Commission held its 85th Ordinary Session (the Session) comprising of a virtual session from 07 – 15 October 2025 (private session) and followed by a physical session from 21 – 30 October 2025 (public session) in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia. Furthermore, the Commission held private deliberations within the framework of the public physical session, on 28 and 29 October 2025, in accordance with its Rules of Procedure.

1. The following Members of the Commission attended the 85th Ordinary Session:

i. Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow; Chairperson; ii. Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem; Vice Chairperson; iii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso; iv. Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela; v. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu; vi. Honourable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga; vii. Honourable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo; viii. Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie; ix. Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo; x. Honourable Commissioner Litha Musiyimi Ogana; and xi. Honourable Commissioner Selma Sassi-Safer.

1. The 85th Ordinary Session commenced with the Private Session conducted virtually from 7 to 15 October 2025, under the leadership of the Chairperson of the Commission, Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, with the assistance of the Vice-Chairperson, Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie.

1. During the Private Session, the Commission examined and adopted the following reports and documents:

i. The Commission's Strategic Plan 2026-2028; ii. Report on Promotion Mission to Seychelles; iii. Report on Follow-up Action Points from the 84th Ordinary Session; iv. Status update on the Study of the Use of Force in prisons; v. Guidelines on Seizure of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Court) by the Commission; vi. Request on Applications for Observer and affiliate Status; vii. Applications for Observer Status; viii. 2025 Workplan Implementation Status and 2026 Workplan; ix. Report of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters (ACBSM), and x. Report of the Resolutions Committee.

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1. The Commission examined the following documents and considered:

i. Paper on Article 56(7) of the African Charter; ii. Baseline Report on the Status of Implementation of Decisions on Communications of the Commission (1994 - 2024). iii. Request for guidance on the draft study “Mapping Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa”; and iv. Request for guidance on the draft study on “Mapping Ethnic, Cultural, Linguistic and Regional Minorities in Africa”

1. The Commission examined the following twelve (12) Communications:

i. Nine (9) Communications on admissibility; with six (6) declared admissible and three declared (3) inadmissible; ii. Two (2) Communications Struck Out; and