Case for the 5th Respondent
20. By its Response to the Reference filed on 26th March, 2012, the 5th
Respondent has urged that this Court should “declare itself incompetent to
hear and determine this Reference” and should instead dismiss it with costs
as against the 5th Respondent for reasons inter-alia:
That in matters of good governance affecting the East African Community, only
the Summit can review the state of affairs in that regard under Article 11(3) of
the Treaty and like Kenya, the Republic of Burundi has taken all measures in
its Constitution and the Treaty as regards adherence to “the principles of good
Governance, rule of law, social justice as well as recognition, provision and
Protection of human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the provisions
of the African Charter ….”.
Further, that this Court has no jurisdiction to determine the Reference which is
filed contrary to the provisions of Article 30(1) of the Treaty.
Lastly, that this Court has no jurisdiction to “review the provisions of the
Protocol to the African Charter … on the Establishment of an African
Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
Scheduling Conference
21. On 1st February, 2013, parties attended a Scheduling Conference convened
by the Court and the following points were found to be subject to no dispute:
a) that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents all signed, ratified and acceded to
the Charter, the Protocol and the Treaty.
b) that there are triable issues based on the provisions of Articles 6, 7, 27
and 30 of the Treaty for The Establishment of the East African
Community.
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