And this the Defendant failed to do considering that, he did no claim any fact nor did he
present any evidence.
The defendant also claimed that The Gambia had not complied with the requirements
for the implementation of the Interstate Transit System (TRIE), signed in Cotonou on
29th May 1982. And that is why it is the West African Economic and Monetary Union
customs code that applies, as well as the code of the Member States that are oppose to
it.
This argument is not appropriate either, since, as the defendant admitted, the border
post was in fact closed.
It remains to be ascertained if there is infringement of the right to free movement of
persons, goods and services
The right to free movement is provided for in several international and regional
instruments for the protection of human rights, namely, the Article 4 of the Universal
Declaration of Human and Citizen Rights of 1789, the Article 13 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the Article 12, 2 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights of 1966 and the Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and
Peoples' Rights of 1981.
The Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that: "(1) Everyone
has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his
country."
The Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, establishes that: 1.
Every individual shall have the right to freedom of movement and residence within the
borders of a State provided he abides by the law. 2. Every individual shall have the right
to leave any country including his own, and to return to his country. This right may only
be subject to restrictions provided for in the law, necessary for the protection of
national security, law and order, public health or morality.... "(Underlined and Bold are
ours)
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