Law Admissibility 14. In terms of the provisions of article Article 56(5) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, "communications [......] relating to human and peoples' rights received by the Commission, shall be examined if they [......] are sent after exhausting local remedies, if any, unless it is obvious that this procedure is unduly prolonged." 15. The facts alleged in the communication submitted by SOS-Esclaves are very grave and from all appearances, contrary to the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, in particular Articles 2, 3 and 5. However, the Complainant, having indicated that there are internal procedures initiated by the supposed victims, does not say anything regarding the status of those procedures. Hence, the Commission is unable to determine whether the said procedures have been concluded or otherwise; nor whether they have allowed the supposed victims to have their rights restored. 16. To enable it to reach an objective determination, the Commission requested the Complainant to supply the additional information it required. Faced with the silence observed by the latter, it is unable to form a precise opinion regarding the facts of which it has been seized. This would seem to indicate that the internal remedies have not been exhausted; the Commission is of the view that if they had been, the Complainant would have made it known. Holding For these reasons, the Commission Declares the communication inadmissible due to non-exhaustion of internal remedies; it however acknowledges that the complainant still enjoys the opportunity to seize the Commission again once the conditions of Article 56(5) have been fulfilled. Bujumbura, 5th May 1999. 2