Article 19 CESSATION OF OFFICE
1. A judge shall not be suspended or removed from office unless, by the unanimous decision of the other judges
of the Court, the judge concerned has been found to be no longer fulfilling the required conditions to be a judge
of the Court.
2. Such a decision of the Court shall become final unless it is set aside by the Assembly at its next session.
Article 20 VACANCIES
1. In case of death or resignation of a judge of the Court, the President of the Court shall immediately inform the
Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity, who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of death
or from the date on which the resignation takes effect.
2. The Assembly shall replace the judge whose office became vacant unless the remaining period of the term is
less than one hundred and eighty (180) days.
3. The same procedure and considerations as set out in Articles 12, 13 and 14 shall be followed for the filling of
vacancies.
Article 21 PRESIDENCY OF THE COURT
1. The Court shall elect its President and one Vice-President for a period of two years. They may be re-elected
only once.
2. The President shall perform judicial functions on a full-time basis and shall reside at the seat of the Court.
3. The functions of the President and the Vice-President shall be set out in the Rules of Procedure of the Court.
Article 22 EXCLUSION
If the judge is a national of any State which is a party to a case submitted to the Court, that judge shall not hear
the case.
Article 23 QUORUM
The Court shall examine cases brought before it, if it has a quorum of at least seven judges.
Article 24 REGISTRY OF THE COURT
1. The Court shall appoint its own Registrar and other staff of the registry from among nationals of Member
States of the OAU according to the Rules of Procedure.
2. The office and residence of the Registrar shall be at the place where the Court has its seat.
Article 25 SEAT OF THE COURT
1. The Court shall have its seat at the place determined by the Assembly from among States parties to this
Protocol. However, it may convene in the territory of any Member State of the OAU when the majority of the
Court considers it desirable, and with the prior consent of the State concerned.
2. The seat of the Court may be changed by the Assembly after due consultation with the Court.
Article 26 EVIDENCE
1. The Court shall hear submissions by all parties and if deemed necessary, hold an enquiry. The States
concerned shall assist by providing relevant facilities for the efficient handling of the case.
2. The Court may receive written and oral evidence including expert testimony and shall make its decision on the
basis of such evidence.
Article 27 FINDINGS
1. If the Court finds that there has been violation of a human or peoples’ rights, it shall make appropriate orders
to remedy the violation, including the payment of fair compensation or reparation.
2. In cases of extreme gravity and urgency, and when necessary to avoid irreparable harm to persons, the Court
shall adopt such provisional measures as it deems necessary.