The Court composed of: Sylvain ORE, President, Ben KIOKO, Vice-President; Gerard NIYUNGEKO, EI Hadji GUISSE, Rafaa BEN ACHOUR, Solomy B. BOSSA, Angelo V. MATUSSE, Ntyam S. O. MENGUE, Marie-Therese MUKAMULlSA, Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA, Chafika BENSAOULA, Judges; and Robert ENO, Registrar In the matter of: DIAKITE Couple, represented by: Advocate Lassana DIAKITE, Lawyer registered with the Bar of Mali v. Republic of Mali, represented by: i) Mr Ibrahima KEITA, Deputy Director, State Litigations (ii) Mr Daouda DOUMBIA, Deputy Director, Criminal Matters I. THE PARTIES 1. The Applicants, Mr. and Mrs. DIAKITE are citizens of Mali residing in Bamako, Cite du CHU Point-G. 2. The Respondent is the Republic of Mali, which became a Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (hereinafter referred to as "the Charter") on 22 January 1982 and to the Protocol to the African Charter on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (hereinafter referred to as "the Protocol") on 20 June 2000. The Republic of Mali also deposited, on 19 February 2010, the Declaration recognizing the jurisdiction of the Court to hear cases filed by individuals and non-governmental organizations. She further, on 16 July 1974, acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December, 1966 (hereinafter referred to as "the Covenant"). 1