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Note that the Government of Cameroon has not respected its obligation to protect the physical
integrity (Article 4) and property (Article 14) of individuals living on its territory or under its
jurisdiction;
Request the Government of Cameroon to pay full compensation for the damages suffered by
the victims of the post electoral violence in Bamenda;
Request the Government of Cameroon to enact positive legislation to ensure the fair, equitable
and rapid compensation for the victims of human rights violations and to ascertain that the
human rights violations committed in Bamenda do not happen again in Cameroon.
Procedure
11. The communication which was received at the Secretariat of the African Commission on the
04/04/2003 had been registered under N° 272/2003, for consideration by the African Commission at
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its 33 Ordinary Session (15-29 May, in Niamey, Niger).
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12. By letter ACHPR/COMM/2 of the 15 April 2003, the Secretariat of the African Commission
acknowledged receipt of the Communication to the Complainants.
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13. During its 33 Ordinary Session, the African Commission examined the complaint and decided to
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be seized of it. Consideration of its admissibility was deferred to its 34 Ordinary Session scheduled to
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be held from the 7 to 21 October 2003 in Banjul, The Gambia.
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14. By letter and by Note Verbale of the 27 June 2003, the Secretariat of the African Commission
informed both the complainants and the Respondent State of the decision of the African Commission.
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15. On the 5 August 2003, the Secretariat received a memorandum from the complainants on the
admissibility of the complaint and conveyed it to the Respondent State by Note Verbale dated
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6 August 2003, whilst reminding it to convey its own memorandum to the Secretariat as early as
possible.
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16. By Note Verbale of the 14 October 2003, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Cameroon requested additional information and more time for it to prepare its memorandum on the
admissibility of the case.
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17. By letter of the 17 October 2003, the Secretariat contacted the complainants requesting them to
provide the supplementary information required by the Respondent State. The complainants complied
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without delay and the request of the Respondent State was met on the 30 October 2003.
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18. During its 34 Ordinary Session which was held from the 6 to 20 November 2003 in Banjul,
The Gambia, the African Commission examined the complaint and heard the Parties. Sequel to this,
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the African Commission deferred its decision on admissibility of the case to its 35 Ordinary Session.
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19. By Note Verbale and by letter of the 16 and 17 December 2003 respectively, the Secretariat of
the African Commission informed the Parties reminding the Respondent State that its memorandum
on admissibility was still outstanding.
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20. By letter dated 16 March 2004, and received at the Secretariat of the Commission on the
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18 March 2004, the complainants conveyed a letter transmitting additional arguments in response to
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the oral arguments made by Respondent State at the 34 Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The
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Gambia from 6 to 20 November 2003.
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21. On the 19 March 2004, the Secretariat of the African Commission sent a Note Verbale to the
Respondent State reminding it to send its comments on the admissibility of the complaint.
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22. By Note Verbale dated 6 April 2004 and received at the Secretariat of the African Commission,
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the Respondent State, referring to the Note Verbale sent to it on the 16 December 2003, informed
the Secretariat that the case of which the African Commission had been seized and which opposed it
to the complainants, was still pending before the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court of
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Cameroon which had deferred the said case to the 26 May 2004.
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23. During its 35 Ordinary Session which was held in May/June 2004 in Banjul, The Gambia, the
African Commission examined the Complaint and heard the Parties on the admissibility of the case.
On this occasion, the Respondent State submitted in writing, its memorandum on the admissibility of