35. Finally, the Court notes that in accordance with Rule 50(2)(g), there is no indication that the instant Application concerns a matter already settled by the parties in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union or the Charter. 36. In view of the foregoing, the Court finds the Application admissible. VII. MERITS 37. The Applicants allege violation of the right to have one’s cause heard in several respects (A); as well as the violation of the obligation to guarantee the independence of the courts. They also allege the violation of the rights to equality before the law and equal protection of the law (B) as well as violation of the right to non-discrimination. A. Alleged violation of the right to have their cause heard 38. The Applicants allege the violation of their right to have their cause heard, in particular, the right to bring cases before domestic courts for any act violating their fundamental rights (i), the right to be tried within a reasonable time (ii) by an impartial tribunal. They also allege (iii) violation of the obligation to guarantee the independence of the courts. In light of the connection between the independence and impartiality of courts, the Court considers that it is more appropriate to deal with the last two alleged violations in the same part5 (iii). 5 Sébastien Germain Marie Aïkoué Ajavon v. Republic of Benin, Judgment (merits and reparations) (2020) 4 AfCLR 133 § 176 10