35. The State also submits that apart from the legal remedies, the Constitution
of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in its Article 79, provides for the
right of pardon to be exercised by the President of the Republic, since the
latter can suspend, commute or mitigate the punishments. According to
the State, though it is not a conventional legal remedy, the right to request
for pardon or the commutation thereof is an established right of any
person condemned to death by Article 6 (4) of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
36. In this regard, the State argues that the Prosecution and the counsels for
the convicted persons immediately appealed for pardon by the President
of the Republic and that the said remedy was still under consideration at
the time the Commission was seized of the matter. The State therefore
concludes that the local remedies were not exhausted.
The Commission’s Analyses on Admissibility
37. This Communication was submitted in accordance with Article 55 of the
African Charter which gives competence to the Commission to receive
and consider « communications other than those from State Parties ». To
be deemed admissible, the said Communications, must meet the
requirements stipulated in Article 56 of the African Charter.
38. Considering the memoranda submitted by the Parties, it is obvious that
they cover all the admissibility requirements except the one relating to
exhaustion of local remedies. The Commission itself has noted that only
the requirement on exhaustion of local remedies set out in Article 56(5) of
the African Charter is the bone of contention. Under the terms of the
aforementioned Article, a communication can only be declared admissible
when the local remedies have been exhausted, unless it is obvious to the
Commission that the said remedies have been unduly prolonged.
39. In its judgment in Jawara v. Gambia,2 the Commission considered that
when they exist, the domestic remedies must be available, effective and
sufficient. A remedy is deemed to be available when it can be pursued by
the Complainant without any impediment; it is effective if it offers some
prospect of success and it is found sufficient if it is capable of remedying
the alleged violation.3
Sir Dawda K. Jawara v. Gambia Communication 147/95 and 149/96 (2000) RADH 107 (2000) para
31.
3 Jawara para 32. Emphases by the Commission.
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