resort to. The ratification process was completed and it has been submitted by both parties that the victims had already used the appeal that was available to them by bringing their grievance to the “judgement ratification office” and that this remedy has proved unsuccessful. 98. The African Commission therefore concludes that since the decision of the court is not appealable by any other judicial authority, the Complainants have exhausted the requirements of Article 56 (5) of the Charter. 99. Article 56(6) of the African Charter states that Communications relating to human and Peoples’ Rights… shall be considered if they: are submitted within a reasonable period from the time local remedies are exhausted, or from the date the Commission is seized with the matter”. The Complainant states that the case has been decided by the State Security Emergency Court whose decision was awaiting the ratification by the President of the Republic. The Secretariat of the African Commission received this Communication during the Commission‟s 40th Ordinary Session, held from 15 to 29 November 2006, in Banjul The Gambia and acknowledged receipt by a letter dated 12 February 2007. The Charter does not provide for what constitutes a reasonable time, for a Complainant to bring his/her Complaint before the Commission. The Commission has however dealt with this issue, on a case by case basis. The Communication got to the Commission ten months after the decision of the State Security Emergency Court. The African Commission considers this to be a reasonable time, taking into consideration the complexities of getting a representation before an international body, and the challenges of communications system in Africa. The African Commission therefore holds that this provision has also been complied with. 100. Article 56(7) of the African Charter states that “Communications relating to human and Peoples’ Rights… shall be considered if they: do not deal with cases which have been settled by these states involved in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, or the Charter of the 24