Provisions of the Charter alleged to have been violated The communications allege violation of Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Procedure* 30. Communication 54/91 is dated 16th July 1991 and was submitted by Malawi African Association, a non-governmental organisation. 31. The Commission was seized of it on 14th November 1991 and the Mauritanian government was notified and called upon to make its observations known. No response was received from it. 32. At the 19th Session held in March 1996, the Commission heard Mr Ahmed Motala, representative of Amnesty International, Mr Halidou Ouédraogo of UIDH, Mr Alioune Tine and Mr C. Faye of RADDHO, as well as the representative of the Mauritanian government. Mr Ahmed Motala then sent the Commission a letter dated 31st March 1996. 33. At the end of the hearings, the Commission held the view that the government did not seriously contest the allegations brought against it. The Mauritanian delegate admitted that human rights violations had indeed been committed. He did not try to explain the circumstances in which they had taken place. He requested the Commission to give its assistance in finding a solution to the problem. He further added that his government was ready to receive a delegation from the Commission to that end. Following this, the Commission reiterated its decision to send a mission to Mauritania to try and obtain an amicable settlement. It was also decided that the mission would be composed of the Chairman of the Commission and Commissioners Rezag-Bara and Ondziel-Gnelenga, as well as the Secretary to the Commission. 34. The mission was in Mauritania from 20th to 27th June 1996. 35. At the 20th Session held in Grand Bay, Mauritius, the Commission considered the mission's report and deferred the decisions on the communications to its 21st Session. 36. On 7th February 1997, the Secretariat wrote to the complainants explaining to them that the mission report would be sent to the government for its observations by the end of February and that they would subsequently have the chance to make comments on the said report. 37. At the 21st Session held in Nouakchott in April 1997, the Commission deferred its decision on this communication to the 22nd Session, pending its receipt of the Mauritanian government's reaction to the mission report. 38. Communication 61/91 was submitted by Amnesty International, on 21st August 1991. 39. The Commission was seized of it at its 10th Session, held in October 1991. 40. The Mauritanian government was notified of it by the Secretariat on 14th November 1991. 41. At the 15th Session, the Commission decided to compile all the communications filed against Mauritania. 42. From that date, the procedure for the present communication became identical to that for communication 54/91. 43. Communication 96/93 was submitted on 12th March 1993 by Ms. Sarr Diop, on behalf of the victims. 44. The Commission was seized of it at its 13th Session held in April 1993. Notification of it was sent to the accused state, asking it to forward its observations to the Secretariat. No response was received. 45. At the 15th Session held in March 1994, it was decided to combine all the communications filed against Mauritania. 46. From that date, the procedure for the present communication became identical to that for the above-mentioned communication 54/91. 47. Communication 98/93 was submitted on 30 March 1993 by two NGOs, Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l'Homme (RADDHO, African Association for the Defence of Human Rights) and Union interafricaine des droits de l'Homme (UIDH, Inter-African Human Rights Union). 48. The Commission was seized of [it] at its 13th Session. 49. On 12 April 1993, notification of it was sent to the accused State, asking it to address its observations to the Secretariat of the Commission. 5