The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has confirmed the appointment of Hon Justice Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza SC and Hon Justice Modibo Sacko.
Their appointment was made Friday at the 34th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Ordinary Summit.
A statement signed by the Court’s Registrar, Dr Robert Eno disclosed that they will be sworn-in during the 61st Ordinary Session scheduled for June 2021.
Hon Justice Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza SC is from the Republic of South Africa while Hon Justice Modibo Sacko from the Republic of Mali.
The statement further related that Hon Justice Rafaâ Ben Achour from the Republic of Tunisia and Hon Lady-Justice Imani Daud Aboud from the United Republic of Tanzania were re-elected. They will serve for the second and final term of six years as required under Article 15 of the Protocol establishing the Court.
Ntsebeza SC and Hon Justice Modibo Sacko are replacing Hon Justice Sylvain Oré from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (2010-2021), the current President of the Court, and Hon Justice Justice Ângelo Vasco Matusse (2014-2021) from the Republic of Mozambique.
Part of the statement reads:
“The President of the Court, Hon Justice Oré, has warmly received the election of the two new Judges (Ntsebeza and Sacko), and re-election of Justices Achour and Aboud, and said that the Court is fully convinced of their deep commitment to human rights and to further strengthen protection of human rights in Africa.”
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is composed of eleven Judges who are nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity.
More so, it is the judicial arm of the African Union and one of the three regional human rights courts together with the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human rights.
The Court meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions.
Established to protect the human and peoples’ rights in Africa principally through delivery of judgments, the Court has its permanent seat in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania.
