23. On 19 July 2012, the Secretariat re-transmitted the Complainant’s submission on Admissibility to the Respondent State, and requested it to forward its written submissions on Admissibility to the Secretariat within two months. 24. On 20 September 2012, the Secretariat received the submissions of the Respondent State on Admissibility. On 25 September 2012, the Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the submissions and forwarded the same to the Complainants. 25. On 25 October 2012, the Complainants forwarded their comments on the Respondent State’s submissions. 26. On 2 November 2012, the Secretariat informed the Parties that it was not able to consider the Communication during the 52nd Ordinary Session, held from 9 to 22 October 2012 because the deadline given for the Complainants’ submissions extended beyond the period of the Session. 27. On 22 February 2013, the Secretariat received supporting documents to supplement the Complainants’ submissions on Admissibility. The Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the documents and forwarded the same to the Respondent State. 28. The Commission considered and declared the Communication admissible at its 15th Extra-Ordinary Session, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 7 to 14 March 2014. The Parties were informed of the Commission’s decision by letter and Note Verbale dated 26 March 2014. The letter to the Complainants also requested them to forward their submissions on Merits within sixty days of receipt of notification. 29. The Secretariat received a letter dated 30 April 2014 from the Complainants, requesting extension of time to submit on Merits, in accordance with Rule 113 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission. Both parties were notified of the Commission’s decision to grant the request by letter and Note Verbale dated 7 May 2014 and 8 May 2014, respectively. 30. The Complainants forwarded their Submissions on Merits by letter dated 26 June 2014, and requested the grant of a subsequent hearing on reparations under Rule 99 (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, if the Commission finds violations under the Charter. 31. By letter dated 30 June 2014, the Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the Merits Submissions and noted the request for an Oral Hearing on reparations if violations of the African Charter are found. The Submissions were forwarded to the Respondent State by Note Verbale dated 30 June 2014. The State was requested to submit its observations within sixty days of receipt of the notification. 32. On 30 July 2014, the Parties were informed that the Commission deferred consideration of the Communication during its 16th Extra-ordinary Session pending receipt of the Respondent State’s Submission on Merits. 33. By Note Verbale dated 2 September 2014, the Respondent State requested for extension of time in accordance with Rule 113 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, 2010. Both parties were notified of the Commission’s decision to grant the request by letter and Note Verbale dated 4 September 2014. 34. The Respondent State submitted its Observations on Merits by Note Verbale dated 1 October 2014, registering preliminary reservations to the Admissibility 4