17. At its 45th Ordinary Session held 13 to 27 May 2009, in Banjul, The Gambia, the
Commission decided to defer the consideration of the Communication to the
46th Ordinary Session of the Commission and informed both parties
appropriately on 3 June 2009.
18. On 12 August 2009, the Respondent State acknowledged receipt of the
Commission’s Note Verbale and requested for a further extension of time to
the 30 September 2009 to enable the Government finalise its submissions. On
18 August 2009, the Respondent State further requested for a copy of the
Admissibility decision which was forwarded to it on 20 August 2009.
19. The request for extension of time was granted on 6 May 2013 and the
Respondent State was requested to submit its argument on Merits on or before
8 June 2013 in time for consideration during the 54th Ordinary Session.
20. At its 46th Ordinary Session held from 11-25 November 2009, in Banjul, The
Gambia, the Commission further decided to defer the consideration of the
Communication to its 47th Ordinary Session. Both parties were informed of the
Commission’s decision on 14 December 2009 and also the decision to give the
Respondent State another chance to make its submissions on the Admissibility
(there was a mistake in this regard since the pending submissions were on
Merits and not Admissibility) of the Communication. By Note Verbale dated 9
March 2010, the Respondent State acknowledged receipt of the Commission’s
Note Verbale of 14 December 2009. In their Note Verbale, the Respondent State
noted that the Commission may be well intentioned in trying to accommodate
the Respondent State however it reiterated its concern that it was not heard
with regards to the Admissibility decision. It subsequently pointed out that the
deferral to allow it one last chance to make submission on Admissibility was
not understood since the Commission had already ruled that the
Communication was Admissible. It also stated that leaving the Republic of
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