42. On 23 December 2004, the Secretariat wrote to the said third parties informing them of this
decision.
43. The Commission also decided to forward the decision on admissibility of the communication to
the Respondent State, upon its request.
44. On 30 March 2005, the Secretariat received further submissions from the Complainants, who
also requested to make an oral presentation to the next session.
45. On 31 March 2005, the Secretariat handed over copies of the decision on admissibility and the
various submissions from the Complainants to the delegation of the Respondent State that visited the
Secretariat on the same date.
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46. At the 37 Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 27 April-11 May 2005, the African
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Commission considered this communication and decided to defer its decision to the 38 Ordinary
Session.
47. On 7 May 2005, the Secretariat informed the Respondent State of this decision.
48. The Complainants were notified of the decision on 13 May 2005.
49. On 7 June 2005, the Secretariat received submissions from the Complainant, which were sent to
the Respondent State.
50. On 12 July 2005, the Secretariat received submissions from the Respondent State, which were
later sent to the Complainant.
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51. At the 38 Ordinary Session held from 21 November-5 December 2005 in Banjul, The Gambia,
the African Commission considered the communication and deferred its decision on the merits to the
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39 Ordinary Session.
52. On 30 January 2006, the Secretariat informed the Respondent State of this decision.
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53. The Complainants were notified of this decision on 5 February 2006.
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54. At the 39 Ordinary session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 11-25 May 2006, the African
Commission considered the communication and decided to defer it for further consideration at the
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40 Ordinary Session.
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55. At the 40 Ordinary session held in Banjul, The Gambia from 14-28 November 2006, the African
Commission considered the communication and decided to defer its decision on the merits to the
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41 Session.
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56. At the 41 Ordinary Session held in Accra, Ghana, from 16-30 May 2007 the Commission
considered the communication and deferred its decision to allow more time for the Secretariat to
conduct further research and finalise the draft decision.
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57. At the 42 Ordinary session held in Brazzaville, Congo, from 14-28 November 2007, the African
Commission considered the communication and decided to defer it for further consideration at the
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43 Ordinary Session.
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58. At the 43 Ordinary Session held in Ezulwini, Swaziland, from 7-22 May 2008, the African
Commission considered the communication and decided to defer its decision on the merits to the
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44 Ordinary Session.
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59. At the 44 Ordinary Session held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 10-24 November 2008, the African
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Commission considered the communication and decided to defer it to the 45 Ordinary Session in
order to finalise the draft decision on the merits.
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60. During the 6 Extra Ordinary session held from 28 March-3 April 2009 in Banjul, The Gambia, the
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Commission considered the communication and resolved to finalise it during the 45 Ordinary
Session.
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61. At the 45 Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, between 13 and 27 May 2009, the
Commission adopted the decision on the merits of the communication.
Law
Admissibility
62. The admissibility of communications brought pursuant to Article 55 of the African Charter is
governed by the conditions stipulated in Article 56 of the African Charter. This Article lays down seven