the Complainant is a political entity established by the Muslim Brotherhood, which had
been declared a terrorist organization by a ruling of the North Cairo Criminal Court on
1/6/2017; and (3) the Communication is brought by a political party, whereas political
parties are not included in the Rules of the Procedure of the Commission under Rule 63
(1) which lists the institutions which may request for a matter to be included in the agenda
of the Ordinary Session of the Commission.
64. The Commission has on previous occasions dealt with the matter of locus standi and has
established
principles
DITSHWANELO
5
case)1
(on
in this
regard.
In
behalf of Lehlohonolo
Commufiication
Bernard
Kobedi)
277/2003
v.
- Spilg and
Botswana
Mack
&
(DITSHWANELO
the Commission confirmed that neither the African Charter nor the Commission's
Rules of Procedure contain specific provisions on locus standi. It therefore held that the
only possible applicable provision is Article 56 (1), which "simply
requires
that
the
Communication indicate its author(s), even if they would like to remain aponymous.
This provision
does
not
specify,
which
parties
Commission."16 The Commission has thus ado
have
standing
before
the
African
tea an exceptionally wide approach to
locus standi, which according to the DJTSHWANELO case:17
places no restriction as
the
conditions
under
standing before it,
to
who can bring a Communication before
Article
56
of
the
African
Charter
are met by
has
been
As long as
the
person
the African Commission will entertain the Communication. The
rationale for the Commission's comparative broader approach
standi
it.
associated
with
the
peculiarity
to
the
issue
of locus
of the African situation, and the
perceived generous intent of the African Charter.
65. Finally, the Commission determined that "the
through
not
be
a
66. Despite
its
jurisprudence
national
this
or
be
permissive
that
the
registered
approach,
person
in
the
there
African
or
NGO
territory
are
still
Commission has
filing
of
made
it
clear
the Communication
need
the Respondent State"
limitations
to
who
.1s
may
bring
Communications before the Commission. One implicit requirement under Article 65 (1)
is that th e " author" must be a person, in order to have standing. Thus a Complaint may
be brought by either a natural person or a juridical person19.
In the present case the
15
Communication 277 /2003 - Spilg and Mack & DITSHWANELO (on behalf of Lehlohonolo Bernard Kobedi) v. Botswana
(2013) ACHPR.
16
Communication 277/2003 - Spilg and Mack & DITSHWANELO (on behalf o
f Lehlohonolo Bernard Kobedi) v. Botswana
(2013) ACHPR paras 73-74.
17
As above, para 81.
18
As above, para 79.
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14