African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

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474 judgments
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Judgment date
October 2025
Une requête peut être radiée lorsqu'un demandeur ne poursuit pas l'affaire et ne peut être localisé.
Procédure civile – Radiation – Règle 65(1)(b) et (c) – Défaut de poursuivre la requête – Demandeur introuvable – Pouvoir discrétionnaire de radier; réintégration possible sur démonstration d'un motif valable (Règle 65(3)).
9 October 2025
September 2025
La Cour rouvre les écritures pour admettre la soumission de l'État déposée après la clôture concernant la nouvelle loi électorale.
Procédure civile — Réouverture des écritures après clôture — Règles 46(3) et 46(4) — Pouvoirs inhérents en vertu de la Règle 90 — Admission de soumissions postérieures à la clôture des écritures — Prise en compte d'une législation nationale postérieure pertinente au litige.
15 September 2025
August 2025
La Cour a exercé son pouvoir discrétionnaire pour rouvrir les écritures et autoriser des preuves supplémentaires dans une affaire complexe relative aux droits électoraux.
Procédure – Réouverture des écritures – Règle 46(3) et pouvoir inhérent en vertu de la Règle 90 – Admission de preuves supplémentaires – Droits électoraux – Intérêt de la justice – Clôture des écritures – Rejet de la demande d'une session extraordinaire accélérée.
5 August 2025
June 2025
La Cour peut‑elle connaître de prétentions en matière de droits de l'homme découlant du soutien allégué d'un État à un groupe armé à l'étranger ?
Compétence entre États ; compétence matérielle sans exigence d'un différend de type CIJ préalable ; application exterritoriale des obligations en matière de droits de l'homme en cas de conflit armé internationalisé ; distinction entre les exigences procédurales d'autres instruments régionaux et le Règlement de cette Cour ; levée de l'épuisement des voies internes en contexte de violations massives et systémiques ; recevabilité malgré procédures parallèles.
26 June 2025
La radiation de la liste électorale fondée sur une condamnation définitive n'a pas porté atteinte aux droits de participation ni à la présomption d'innocence.
Droit électoral – Radiation de la liste électorale fondée sur une condamnation in absentia – Présomption d'innocence – Caractère définitif attesté par un certificat de non-opposition – Recevabilité et compétence malgré le retrait de la déclaration au titre de l'article 34(6) – Défaut de l'État intimé.
26 June 2025
La Cour conclut que la peine de mort obligatoire est arbitraire et que la pendaison est dégradante ; elle ordonne la révocation, des réformes législatives et une nouvelle audience.
Droits de l'homme — Compétence de la Cour africaine sur des prétentions relevant du droit pénal alléguant des violations de la Charte ; recevabilité — épuisement des voies de recours et délai de saisine ; procès équitable — rôle et impartialité des assesseurs ; peine de mort — caractère arbitraire de la peine obligatoire (violation du droit à la vie) ; la pendaison comme mode d'exécution porte atteinte à la dignité et viole l'interdiction des châtiments cruels, inhumains ou dégradants.
26 June 2025
Requête déclarée irrecevable pour défaut d'épuisement des recours internes malgré la compétence de la Cour et le défaut du défendeur.
Droits de l'homme — Admissibilité — Épuisement des recours internes — Le statut d'immigrant interdit ne rend pas ipso facto les recours internes indisponibles — Jugement par défaut — Défaut de l'État de répondre après avoir été dûment signifié.
26 June 2025
La Cour constate une violation du droit à une audience publique mais aucune violation du droit de propriété ni du droit à un procès équitable au fond ; elle accorde des dommages moraux et ordonne la publication.
Compétence en matière de droits de l'homme ; recevabilité ; épuisement des voies de recours internes ; administration publique de la justice ; droit à une audience publique ; limites du contrôle des constatations de fait et de droit des juridictions nationales ; réparations (dommages moraux, publication, rapport).
26 June 2025
La Cour a constaté des brutalités policières, une assistance juridique inefficace, un retard déraisonnable et que la peine de mort obligatoire violait des droits fondamentaux.
Compétence et recevabilité ; article 5 dignité — brutalités policières et devoir d'enquête de l'État ; article 7 procès équitable — représentation juridique effective et retard déraisonnable ; article 4 droit à la vie — peine de mort obligatoire ; exécution par pendaison — cruelle, inhumaine ou dégradante ; réparations — indemnisation, réforme législative, nouvelle audience, publication et rapports.
26 June 2025
Demande de mesures provisoires rejetée pour absence de gravité extrême, d'urgence et de préjudice irréparable.
Mesures provisoires – exigences de gravité extrême, d'urgence et de préjudice irréparable – charge de la preuve incombant au requérant pour établir l'urgence et le préjudice irréparable – le délai affaiblit l'urgence – compétence prima facie en vertu de l'article 3(1) du Protocole et de la Déclaration visée à l'article 34(6).
26 June 2025
Requête déclarée irrecevable pour défaut d'épuisement des recours internes ; la Cour a conservé sa compétence malgré le retrait de l'État intimé.
Compétence – déclaration prévue à l'article 34(6) et retrait – retrait non rétroactif ; Jugement par défaut – règle 63(1) ; Recevabilité – épuisement des recours internes (article 56 de la Charte africaine ; règle 50(2)) ; Prématurité de la requête lorsque des poursuites et des appels internes sont pendants ; Mesures provisoires antérieurement ordonnées.
26 June 2025
Savoir si des décisions administratives et judiciaires refusant la promotion de policiers ont violé le droit à l'égalité et le droit d'être entendu.
Égalité devant la loi – Non‑discrimination – charge de la preuve; Critères administratifs de promotion – conditions temporelles d'éligibilité; Contrôle judiciaire et revirement de jurisprudence – légitimité de l'évolution de la jurisprudence des tribunaux; Droit d'être entendu – délais procéduraux, signification et voies d'appel; Recevabilité – épuisement des voies de recours internes et délai raisonnable.
26 June 2025
Demande de mesures conservatoires rejetée parce que ces mesures porteraient atteinte au fond malgré l'existence d'une juridiction prima facie.
Mesures conservatoires – Juridiction prima facie en vertu du Protocole – Exigences de gravité extrême, d'urgence et de préjudice irréparable – Les mesures conservatoires ne doivent pas préjuger du fond – Demandes identiques aux réparations substantielles ; questions de reconnaissance d'une organisation régionale (WAEMU).
26 June 2025
La Cour affirme sa compétence mais déclare la requête irrecevable pour défaut d'épuisement des recours constitutionnels internes.
Compétence — compétence matérielle pour apprécier la conformité des lois nationales et des actes judiciaires à la Charte africaine ; admissibilité — manquement à l'épuisement des voies de recours internes effectives (Cour constitutionnelle nationale) ; réparations — la Cour peut ordonner l'abrogation d'une loi comme réparation appropriée ; exceptions préliminaires — l'abus de procédure est renvoyé au fond ; l'anonymat et les dépôts multiples ne privent pas ipso facto de la qualité pour agir.
26 June 2025
Requête rejetée comme irrecevable pour défaut d'épuisement des recours internes effectifs avant le dépôt.
Droit administratif – Arrêté interministériel restreignant la délivrance de documents officiels – Recevabilité – Épuisement des voies de recours internes – Disponibilité et efficacité de la Cour constitutionnelle – Temporalité : les recours appréciés à la date du dépôt – Présomption d'indépendance judiciaire.
26 June 2025
La Cour a radié des défendeurs hors de sa compétence et une ONG dépourvue du statut d'observateur, et a poursuivi uniquement à l'encontre des États ayant déposé des déclarations au titre de l'article 34(6).
Compétence — déclarations au titre de l'article 34(6) — la compétence personnelle est limitée aux États ayant ratifié le Protocole et déposé des déclarations ; qualité pour agir des ONG — le statut d'observateur auprès de la Commission africaine est requis ; règle 90 — pouvoir implicite de la Cour de radier des parties non qualifiées et de redesigner des requêtes.
17 June 2025
La Cour a exercé son pouvoir discrétionnaire pour rouvrir les écritures, a déclaré la Réponse tardive dûment déposée et a accordé au requérant trente jours pour répondre.
Procédure — Réouverture des écritures — Pouvoir discrétionnaire en vertu des Règles 46(3) et 90 — Prorogation du délai de dépôt de la Réponse — Signification et réplique sous 30 jours — Le retrait de la Déclaration visée à l'Article 34(6) n'affecte pas les affaires pendantes.
2 June 2025
May 2025
La Cour a rouvert les écritures et ordonné une réponse sous sept jours dans le cadre d'une contestation des restrictions de vote visant les prisonniers et la diaspora.
Droit procédural — Réouverture des écritures (Règle 46(3)) ; pouvoirs inhérents de la Cour (Règle 90) ; réponses par défaut (Règle 63) ; participation politique — droits de vote des prisonniers, des personnes condamnées à mort et de la diaspora ; effet du retrait de la Déclaration au titre de l'Article 34(6) sur les affaires pendantes.
20 May 2025
February 2025
Court exercised Rule 46(3) and Rule 90 to reopen pleadings and admitted RFK and IHRDA as amici curiae.
* Procedural law – Reopening pleadings – Rule 46(3) – Court’s discretion to reopen pleadings in the interest of justice. * Procedural law – Inherent powers – Rule 90 – Court may adopt procedures necessary to meet the ends of justice. * Amicus curiae – Admissibility and relevance of RFK and IHRDA submissions in electoral rights litigation. * Electoral law – Allegations of systemic electoral malpractices and broader public interest in adjudication.
28 February 2025
The Court lacks jurisdiction to hear claims against the AU/AUC because they are not State Parties to the Protocol.
* Jurisdiction – Limits of the African Court’s jurisdiction – Applications must be filed against State Parties to the Protocol; international organisations not party to the Protocol fall outside jurisdiction. * Procedural law – Preliminary examination of jurisdiction under Article 3, Article 34(6) of the Protocol and Rule 49(1) of the Rules. * Precedent – Falana v. African Union applied: international organisations cannot be bound by a treaty to which they are not party.
12 February 2025
Failure to provide free legal aid breached the right to defence; conviction upheld; moral damages and legislative reform ordered.
Human rights – Fair trial – Right to defence and free legal assistance; Court jurisdiction – material, personal, temporal, territorial upheld; Admissibility – exhaustion of local remedies and reasonable time; Evidence review – no manifest error in domestic proceedings; Reparations – moral damages awarded; Legislative reform – Legal Aid Act 2017 to be amended.
5 February 2025
Failure to pursue the available cassation remedy rendered the fair-trial application inadmissible.
Human rights – Admissibility – Exhaustion of local remedies – Cassation as available and effective remedy in Côte d’Ivoire – Lack of counsel/ignorance not excusing non-exhaustion – Jurisdiction confirmed.
5 February 2025
Application declared inadmissible for failure to exhaust available domestic remedies despite Court’s jurisdiction.
Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies — Availability of remedies under domestic Code of Criminal Procedure allowing injured party to request investigation or bring civil action — Application premature; Material jurisdiction — Alleged violations fall within the African Charter and relevant international instruments.
5 February 2025
State violated multiple Charter rights of persons with albinism by failing to prevent attacks, investigate, prosecute and adopt protective measures.
Human rights — Persons with albinism — State duty of due diligence to prevent, investigate and prosecute attacks — Non‑discrimination, right to life, prohibition of torture, children’s rights, health and education — NGOs’ standing and exhaustion of local remedies — Reparations and structural measures ordered.
5 February 2025
Mandatory death sentence and hanging violate Articles 4 and 5; Court orders vacatur of mandatory death sentence, new sentencing hearing, and reforms.
Criminal law and human rights – jurisdiction of the African Court over domestic convictions – admissibility: exhaustion of local remedies and reasonable time – mandatory death penalty violates right to life (Article 4) – hanging as method of execution violates inherent dignity (Article 5) – remedies: annulment of mandatory death sentence, new sentencing hearing, repeal of mandatory death penalty and hanging, moral damages.
5 February 2025
Application declared inadmissible for non-exhaustion of local remedies despite Respondent's default; Court retained jurisdiction.
* Default judgment – Rule 63(1) – Conditions for judgment by default satisfied where State duly served but failed to respond. * Jurisdiction – Court confirmed material, personal, temporal and territorial jurisdiction under Protocol and Charter. * Admissibility – Exhaustion of local remedies required; first-instance decisions appealable under domestic law. * Procedural law – In limine litis dismissal does not automatically negate availability of appeal absent proof.
5 February 2025
Court affirms jurisdiction over alleged Charter violations but declares application inadmissible for failure to exhaust local remedies.
Jurisdiction – material jurisdiction over alleged Charter violations even when underlying dispute arises from contract with a state-owned entity; Limits of Court’s role – not an appellate court but may assess conformity of national proceedings with human-rights standards; Admissibility – requirement to exhaust local remedies; unduly prolonged domestic proceedings must be demonstrated with evidence; availability of Constitutional Court remedy; claims unsupported by domestic proceedings are inadmissible.
5 February 2025
November 2024
Court exercised its discretion to reopen pleadings and ordered the State to file its Response within 30 days.
* Human rights procedure – reopening of pleadings – Court’s discretion under Rule 46(3) and inherent power under Rule 90 – extension of time to file Response. * Jurisdiction – effect of State’s withdrawal of Article 34(6) declaration on pending and newly filed cases before withdrawal’s effective date.
29 November 2024
Request for provisional measures dismissed for failure to show extreme gravity, urgency and irreparable harm.
* Provisional measures – requirements of extreme gravity, urgency and prevention of irreparable harm under Article 27(2) of the Protocol. * Prima facie jurisdiction – Protocol and ICCPR ratification and Article 34(6) declaration. * Burden of proof – applicant must provide clear evidence of urgency and irreparable harm. * Relevance of pending domestic remedies – national proceedings may obviate need for provisional relief; risk of prejudging merits.
20 November 2024
Mandatory death sentences and hanging breach the rights to life and dignity; fair-trial challenge was dismissed.
• Human rights — Criminal procedure — Fair trial (Article 7): assessment of witness inconsistencies and standard of proof. • Human rights — Right to life (Article 4): mandatory death penalty violates judicial discretion requirement. • Human rights — Dignity (Article 5): execution by hanging constitutes degrading treatment. • Remedies — Legislative reform, vacatur and resentencing, publication and reporting obligations.
13 November 2024
Applicant’s fair-trial complaints dismissed; Court finds no violations and denies reparations.
* Human rights – Fair trial – Allegations of denial of hearing, conviction on unreliable evidence, inability to challenge evidence, breach of presumption of innocence, improper amendment of charges, and absence of reasoned judgment – Assessment of domestic proceedings and appellate review. * Procedure – Default judgment against State for failure to respond; conditions for suo motu default satisfied. * Admissibility – Exhaustion of local remedies and reasonable time to file.
13 November 2024
Application alleging electoral participation rights violations inadmissible for failure to exhaust local remedies.
Electoral law amendments; right to participate in elections; admissibility – exhaustion of local remedies; default proceedings for non-responsive State; jurisdiction (material, personal, temporal, territorial).
13 November 2024
Claim of gender inequality in surname law rendered moot after domestic amendment; Court affirms jurisdiction and admissibility.
• Human rights — Equality between men and women — Surname transmission — Whether domestic law reserving surname choice to father violates African Charter, Maputo Protocol, ICCPR and CEDAW. • Jurisdiction — Material, personal, temporal and territorial jurisdiction of African Court despite prior Constitutional Court ruling and State’s withdrawal of Article 34(6) Declaration. • Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies and timeliness. • Mootness — Effect of domestic legislative amendment on international adjudication and remedies.
13 November 2024
Mandatory death sentences and execution by hanging violate the rights to life and dignity; domestic conviction not found unfair.
Criminal law – fair trial and evaluation of circumstantial evidence; Human rights – mandatory death penalty violates right to life (Article 4); Methods of execution – hanging violates dignity and prohibits cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 5); Reparations – moral damages and structural remedies; Default judgment for non-response by State.
13 November 2024
Mandatory death penalty and hanging violated the applicant’s rights to life and dignity; Court orders sentence vacated and legal reform.
• Jurisdiction — Court may assess conformity of domestic criminal proceedings with the African Charter and order remedies including vacatur of sentence and release. • Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies satisfied where appeal to Court of Appeal was pursued; filing within reasonable time by incarcerated lay applicant. • Evidence — Circumstantial and DNA evidence and presumption of death may support conviction if corroborated; international court cautious about re-evaluating factual findings absent manifest injustice. • Death penalty — Mandatory imposition violates Article 4 (right to life) by denying sentencing discretion; execution by hanging violates Article 5 (dignity). • Remedies — Individual relief (vacate mandatory death sentence, remove from death row, rehearing on sentencing) and systemic orders (repeal mandatory death provision, abolish hanging, publication and reporting).
13 November 2024
Failure to exhaust available domestic remedy (cour de cassation) renders applicant's fair-trial claims inadmissible.
• Jurisdiction – material, personal (Article 34(6) Declaration), temporal and territorial – affirmed. • Admissibility – exhaustion of local remedies required; appeal to Cour de cassation deemed available and effective. • Procedural law – lack of counsel, ignorance of remedies or unsubstantiated claims of ineffectiveness do not excuse non-exhaustion. • Application dismissed as inadmissible; costs borne by each party.
13 November 2024
The Court found no violation of the right to be heard, equal protection, or dignity and dismissed reparations claims.
* Jurisdiction – material, personal, temporal and territorial – Court may order remedies including release if violation established. * Admissibility – exhaustion of local remedies and reasonable time – incarcerated, self-represented applicant. * Fair trial – right to have cause heard (Article 7(1)) – assessment of witness credibility and reliance on corroborating prosecution testimony. * Non-discrimination – equal protection (Article 3(2)) – burden on applicant to substantiate claim. * Human dignity (Article 5) – allegation of torture/inhuman treatment must be substantiated with evidence.
13 November 2024
Mandatory death penalty and hanging violate the Charter; confession/torture claims unproven; moral damages awarded.
Human rights — Jurisdiction of the Court — Admissibility (exhaustion of local remedies; reasonable time) — Evidence and fair trial — Alleged torture — Mandatory death penalty and method of execution (hanging) — Article 1 obligations — Reparations and structural remedies.
13 November 2024
Adoption without referendum did not breach self-determination; executive measures unlawfully undermined judicial and legislative independence.
* Human rights – Peoples’ right to self-determination – Whether adoption of a constitution without referendum violates Article 20 of the African Charter; * Judicial independence – Article 26 – Failure to operationalise Constitutional Court; abolition/replacement of review and judicial governance bodies; executive control over judges’ discipline and dismissal; * Separation of powers – Suspension/dissolution of legislature and assumption of decree-based legislative power by executive; * Admissibility – Exhaustion of local remedies waived where constitutional review bodies unavailable; * Remedies – Court orders operationalisation of Constitutional Court, repeal of Decree-Law 2022-11, reinstatement of High Judicial Council, periodic reporting.
13 November 2024
Court grants a 90‑day adjournment for State to file implementation report; eviction allegations to be heard later.
Compliance hearing – adjournment request – Court’s power under Rules 54(6) and 90 – 90‑day deadline to file implementation report – allegation of continuing evictions to be determined at future hearing – costs reserved.
12 November 2024
October 2024
Court ordered suspension of detention to secure urgent specialised medical treatment and prevent irreparable harm.
Provisional measures – Prima facie jurisdiction under the Protocol, African Charter and ICCPR – Extreme gravity, urgency and risk of irreparable harm – Right to health and protection from torture – Suspension of detention to obtain specialised medical treatment – Short reporting deadline.
29 October 2024
Court reopens pleadings and deems State’s late Response filed, ordering Applicant to reply within thirty days.
* Procedural law – Reopening pleadings – Court’s discretion under Rule 46(3) and Rule 90 inherent powers – Pleadings filed out of time under Rule 45(1). * Human rights procedure – Admissibility of late Responses in cases raising fair trial and equality rights where interests of justice warrant reopening. * Remedies – Direction to serve deemed-filed Response and allow Applicant thirty days to reply.
28 October 2024
The Court dismissed an Ogiek community application for lack of personal jurisdiction because the State had not deposited the Article 34(6) declaration.
* Jurisdiction – personal jurisdiction – Article 34(6) declaration required for individuals to file directly – absence of declaration bars Court’s jurisdiction. * Preliminary examination – Rule 49(1) – Court must assess jurisdiction before addressing merits. * Res judicata/continuation – already-determined Application No. 006/2012 cannot serve as a basis to avoid fresh jurisdictional requirements.
16 October 2024
September 2024
Application declared inadmissible for failure to exhaust domestic remedies; Court retains jurisdiction and denies provisional measures.
Jurisdiction – material jurisdiction upheld despite State sovereignty objections; Exhaustion of local remedies – pending cassation appeal at filing rendered application inadmissible; Provisional measures – denied after inadmissibility; Personal, temporal and territorial jurisdiction affirmed; Costs – each party to bear own costs.
3 September 2024
The respondent violated applicants’ fair-trial, dignity and life rights by consular, interpreter, torture and mandatory-death-penalty failures.
Consular rights – failure to inform detained foreign nationals; Right to interpreter – failure to provide during arrest, interrogation and trial; Right to a trial within reasonable time – excessive pre-trial detention; Police brutality and failure to investigate – prohibition of torture; Death penalty – mandatory sentencing violates right to life; Method of execution (hanging) and death-row phenomenon – cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; Prison conditions – violation of dignity; Reparations – moral damages, vacatur of sentence, legislative and procedural reforms.
3 September 2024
Application declared inadmissible for failure to exhaust the domestic cassation remedy; Court affirms its jurisdiction.
* Human rights – Admissibility – Exhaustion of local remedies – cassation appeal as an available, effective and satisfactory remedy in Burkina Faso. * Jurisdiction – African Court – material, personal (Article 34(6) declaration), temporal and territorial jurisdiction affirmed. * Admissibility – undue prolongation exception not established; failure to exhaust cassation renders Application inadmissible. * Costs – each party to bear own costs.
3 September 2024
Failure to provide free legal assistance in serious criminal proceedings violated the applicant's right to a fair trial.
* Jurisdiction – material, personal, temporal and territorial – Court empowered to examine alleged Charter violations. * Admissibility – exhaustion of local remedies – appeal and review to apex court sufficient; reasonable time for filing. * Criminal procedure – right to fair trial – assessment of identification evidence and right to be heard. * Right to defence – obligation to provide free legal assistance at trial and appellate stages for indigent accused facing serious penalties. * Reparations – proof required for material loss; moral damages awarded for violation of right to legal assistance. * Costs and implementation – each party bears own costs; State to report on implementation.
3 September 2024
Court found jurisdiction, admitted only the complaint against the lawyers, but held no fair-trial violation and dismissed reparations.
• Jurisdiction – material, personal, temporal and territorial – application of Article 3 of the Protocol. • Admissibility – exhaustion of local remedies and unduly prolonged proceedings (Article 56 of the Charter; Rule 50). • Compatibility with AU Constitutive Act – Article 3(h) and admissibility requirements. • Timeliness – reasonableness of delay in filing (Article 56(6)). • Fair trial – scope of Article 7(1)(a) of the Charter read with Article 14 ICCPR; review of Constitutional Court’s declination of jurisdiction. • Reparations – claim dismissed where no violation found.
3 September 2024
June 2024
Request to reopen pleadings dismissed for lack of new relevant facts; hearing request held superfluous.
Reopening pleadings — Court’s discretion under Rule 46(3) — Applicant must show new, relevant facts or evidence; matters irrelevant to original subject-matter are not grounds to reopen; request to hold hearing superfluous where reopening is refused.
6 June 2024
Mandatory death sentence violates right to life and hanging breaches dignity; remedy includes vacatur, rehearing and legislative repeal.
Human rights — Criminal procedure — Fair trial guarantees (reasonable time, right to defence, presumption of innocence, impartial tribunal) — Mandatory death penalty — Arbitrary deprivation of life where judicial discretion removed — Hanging as cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment — Reparations, vacatur of sentence, legislative reform and reporting obligations.
4 June 2024