other human rights instruments ratified by the State concerned.”8 As such,
in the present Application, the Court would not be sitting as an appellate
court, if it were to examine the allegations made by the Applicant simply
because they relate to the assessment of evidentiary issues. Consequently,
the Respondent State’s objection in this regard is dismissed.
26. As a consequence of the foregoing, the Court finds that it has material
jurisdiction to consider the present Application and dismisses the
Respondent State’s objection.
B. Other aspects of jurisdiction
27. The Court notes that its personal, temporal and territorial jurisdiction are not
contested by the Respondent State. Nonetheless, in line with Rule 49(1) of
the Rules,9 it must satisfy itself that all aspects of its jurisdiction are fulfilled
before proceeding.
28. In relation to its personal jurisdiction, the Court recalls as indicated in
paragraph 2 of the judgment, that the Respondent State is a party to the
Protocol and deposited the Declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol
with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Subsequently, on
21 November 2019, it deposited an instrument withdrawing its Declaration.
The Court recalls its jurisprudence that the withdrawal of the Declaration
does not apply retroactively and only takes effect twelve (12) months after
the notice of such withdrawal has been deposited, in this case, on 22
November 2020.10 This Application having been filed before the
Respondent State deposited its notice of withdrawal, is thus not affected by
it. Consequently, the Court holds that it has personal jurisdiction.
8
Mtingwi v. Malawi, ibid; Kennedy Ivan v. United Republic of Tanzania (merits and reparations) (28
March 2019) 3 AfCLR 48, § 26; Armand Guehi v. Tanzania (merits and reparations) (7 December 2018)
2 AfCLR 477, § 33; Nguza Viking (Babu Seya) and Johnson Nguza (Papi Kocha) v. United Republic of
Tanzania (merits) (23 March 2018) 2 AfCLR 287, § 35.
9 Rule 39(1) of Rules of Court, 2 June 2010.
10 Cheusi v. Tanzania (judgment), supra, §§ 35-39.
9