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18. On 23 February 2000, following an email from Dr Curtis Doebbler of the Complainant Firm
requesting the Secretariat to furnish him on the progress of all communications filed, the Secretariat
forwarded to him through email the letter of 21st January 2000. It also requested him to indicate a fax
number to enable it send observations received from the government of Sudan for his response.
19. On 1st March 2000, the Secretariat received an email from Dr Curtis Doebbler indicating a fax
number for the above documents to be sent. The Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the same and
intimated to him the necessity of submitting the requested written responses on time.
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20. On 8 March 2000, the observation of the government of Sudan was faxed to the Complainant in
the US as requested.
21. The Complainant repeated its request for information on the progress of all communications
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pending before the [African] Commission on 9 and 16 March 2000.
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22. At last, the Secretariat received an e-mail from Dr Curtis Doebbler on 17 March 2000,
acknowledging receipt of the e-mail indicating the facts of all the pending communications filed by the
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Complainant, and also promising to furnish it with their responses no later than 24 March 2000.
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23. At the 27 Ordinary Session held in Algeria, the [African] Commission heard oral submissions
from parties and decided to consolidate all the cases. It requested to furnish it with written submissions
on the issue of exhaustion of local remedies.
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24. On 30 June 2000, the above decisions were communicated to parties.
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25. On 4 September 2000, Dr Curtis Doebbler wrote from Cairo to the Secretariat of the [African]
Commission requesting information on the decision taken by the [African] Commission at the
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27 Session in Algiers.
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26. The Secretariat responded on 7 September 2000, informing him that same had earlier been
faxed to him and observing that there were at least three e-mail addresses given by him to the
Secretariat for communication purposes and proposing that he should indicate the most suitable email address for future correspondence in order to avoid delays and missing mails. The mails were
dispatched to though all the e-mail addresses designated by him and also through fax.
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27. On 14 September 2000, Dr Curtis Doebbler acknowledged receipt of the mails but pleaded for
an adjournment to enable him submit in advance a full brief on the issue of exhaustion of local
remedies and to arrange for his witnesses.
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28. On 13 March 2001, the Secretariat received the Complainant’s submission. At the 29 Ordinary
Session, the [African] Commission will hear evidence on exhaustion of local remedies and will then
decide on admissibility.
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29. At the 29 Ordinary session held in Tripoli, the Rapporteur introduced the communications and
reviewed the facts and the status of the case. The [African] Commission thereafter heard the parties to
the case. Following detailed discussions, the [African] Commission noted that the Complainant had
submitted a detailed brief on the case. It was therefore recommended that consideration of this
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communication be deferred to the 30 Session pending submission of detailed replies by the
Respondent State.
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30. On 19 June 2001, the Secretariat of the African Commission informed the parties of the above
decision and requested the Respondent State to forward its written submissions within two (2) months
from the date of notification of the decision.
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31. On 14 August 2001, a reminder was sent to the Respondent State to forward its submissions
within the prescribed time to enable the Secretariat proceed with the communication.
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32. During the 30 Session, the Rapporteurs introduced the communications and reviewed the facts
and the status of each case. The [African] Commission thereafter heard the oral submission of the
Respondent State to the case. Following detailed discussions, the [African] Commission noted that the
Respondent State did not respond to the questions raised by the Complainant. The [African]
Commission also heard oral submissions by Dr Curtis Doebbler and recommended that consideration
of these communications be deferred to the 31st Session, pending detailed written submission by the
Respondent State to the submissions of the Complainant.
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33. On 15 November 2002, the Secretariat of the African Commission informed the parties on the
decision of the [African] Commission and requested Respondent State to forward its written
submissions within two (2) months from the date of notification of this decision.