13. On 17 January 2006, the Secretariat of the African Commission informed the
Respondent State of its decision, forwarding to it a copy of the complaint and
requesting it to submit its arguments on Admissibility.
14. On the same date, the Complainant was informed of the decision of the
African Commission and also requested to submit his arguments on
Admissibility.
15. In the absence of any response from the parties, the Secretariat of the
Commission sent them reminder letters on 23 March 2006. A copy of the
complaint was especially attached to the note verbale sent to the Respondent
State.
16. On 23 May 2006, the Secretariat of the Commission received from the
Complainant a copy of his letter transmitting his arguments on Admissibility
to the Respondent State. A copy of the same arguments on Admissibility was
also sent to the Secretariat.
17. By note verbale dated 14 July 2006, the Secretariat forwarded to the
Respondent State the Complainant’s arguments on Admissibility. Moreover,
after reminding the DRC of the note verbale dated 23 March 2006, the
Secretariat again requested the Respondent State to submit its arguments on
the Admissibility of the Communication within two months.
18. On 26 July 2006, the Secretariat wrote to the Complainant a letter
acknowledging receipt of his arguments on Admissibility and informing him
of the transmission of the said arguments to the Respondent State.
19. At its 40th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 15 to 29
November 2006, the African Commission deferred the matter to its 41st
Ordinary Session to be held from 16 to 30 May 2007 in Accra, Ghana, in order
to allow the Respondent State more time to respond to the Complainant’s
arguments on Admissibility.
20. On 30 January 2007, having received no response to the notes verbales of 23
March 2006 and 14 July 2006 sent to the Respondent State through the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretariat of the Commission sent a note
verbale as a reminder, this time to the Ministry of Human Rights with a copy
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Secretariat also indicated in this note
verbale that if the DRC failed to submit its arguments on Admissibility within
30 days, the Commission may, at its 41st Ordinary Session, deliver its ruling
on the Admissibility of the complaint in accordance with Rule 119 (4) of its
Rules of Procedure.
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