present decision in accordance with Rule 112(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the
Commission 2010.
The Commissions sees no reason whatsoever why it should depart from this decision
or let alone over-rule it.
278.
The Commission will now deal with the prayer that the Commission should draw the
attention of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union
(AU) to the situation in accordance with Article 58 of the African Charter.
279.
A perusal of the Complainants' and Respondent State's submission and indeed the
Amicus Curiae submissions will reveal that no effort was spared to canvass
submissions or arguments for or against the prayer to draw the attention of the Heads
of State in accordance with Article 58 of the African Charter. In the circumstances and
more so that the Complainants have made no submissions, in this regard, the
Commission deems that this prayer has been abandoned.
280.
Be the immediate foregoing matters as they may be, the Commission wishes to point
out that on the material before the Commission there is no iota of evidence which
shows or tends to show that the conditions required under Article 58 of the African
Charter are there in this Communication for consideration by the Commission.
281.
Article 58 of the African Charter provides that:
1. When it appears after deliberations of the Commission that one or more Communications
app(lrently relate to special cases tohicn reoeal the existence of a series of serious or massive
violations of human and peoples' rights, the Commission shall draw the attention of the
Assembly of Heads a/Slate and Government to these special cases.
2. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government may then request the Commission to
undertake a71in-depth study of these cases and make a factual report, accompanied by its
finding and recommendations.
3. A case ofemergency duly noticed by the Commission shall be submitted by the Zatter to the
Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government who may request an in-depth
study.
282.
From Article 58 of the African Charter, it is clear that this provision comes alive if a
communication relates to a special case which reveals the existence of a series of
serious or massive violations of human and people's rights. In casu however no such
revelation has been made in the materials availed to the Commission by the
Complainants. In circumstances the Commission is of the considered view that this is
not a proper case in which to caU in aid the provisions of Article 58 of the African
Charter as inter alia prayed by the Complainants.
Decision of the Commission on the merits
283.For the foregoing reasons, the Commission:
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1.
finds that the Respondent State violated Articles 6, 7, 8, 9,
African Charter.
11.
Does not find a violation of Articles 4 and 5 of the African C
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