Complainants submitted letters from the families of two (2) victims, who agreed to be represented in this Communication. 19. Information letters were sent to the Parties to the Communication from the 58th to the 65th Ordinary Session. 20. At its 27th Extraordinary Session held from 12 February to 4 March 2020, the Commission declared the Communication admissible. 21. On 5 March 2020, the Complainants were informed of the Admissibility decision and were requested to submit their arguments on the Merits to the Secretariat within 60 days in accordance with Rule 108(1) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure. The Respondent State was also informed. 22. On 30 May 2020, the Secretariat of the Commission received the Complainants' arguments on the Merits, which were forwardea to the Respondent State on 1 June 2020 by Note Verbale. InJhe same-note verbale, the Secretariat of the Commission requested the Respondent State,to\submit its observations on the Merits within a period not to exceed 60 daysfrom the date of receipt of the notification. , > 23. The Respondent State did not submit its observations within the required time limit. . Admissibility .~ Complainants' arguments on Admissibility ,.' 24. The Complainants ll\~in,tain th~t the Communication meets the admissibility requirement of Article 56(5)' oftne<i! African Charter as it falls within the scope of the three derogations 16 'tne~principle of exhausting local remedies. The Complainants contend that local remedies are not available, effective and sufficient to provide redress due to the large number of victims, the serious and massive nature of the violations and the low level of income of victims who cannot access legal aid. 4

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