Registry acknowledged receipt of same and informed the Respondent State that, in accordance with Rule 44(1) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter “the Rules”), that its submissions should cover jurisdiction and admissibility as well as the merits and reparations. The Registry also reminded the Respondent State that the time-limit for filing its submissions would elapse on 3 March 2024. 15. On 7 March 2024, the Court issued an Order on the Applicant State’s request for expedited proceedings, whose operative part reads as follows: Unanimously, i. Dismisses the request for an expedited procedure. ii. Decides to proceed with the matter in accordance with the Rules, relative to the time-lines for filing pleadings. iii. Decides to consider the main Application on a priority basis. 16. On 15 March 2024, the Registry transmitted the Respondent State’s submissions on jurisdiction and admissibility, translated into French, to the Applicant State, for its Reply within 45 days. 17. On 25 March 2024, the Application was transmitted to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and to the Executive Council of the African Union and all other States Parties to the Protocol for their intervention, if necessary. No State Party submitted a request for intervention. 18. On 26 April 2024, the Applicant State filed its Reply on jurisdiction and admissibility, which was transmitted to the Respondent State on 12 September 2024, for its Rejoinder within 30 days. 19. On 18 October 2024, the Respondent State filed its Rejoinder, albeit out of time. The Court decided, on the basis of Rule 45(1) of the Rules, and in the interest of justice, to accept the Respondent State’s pleadings. 6