the Applicant, the Cotonou Court of Appeal was unable to adjudicate his appeal against the aforementioned judgment for lack of appeal submissions. 44. The Applicant further states that he brought various actions before the Constitutional Court on the following dates: 30 January 2016 and 4 August 2016 against the Commissioner of Cotonou Central Police Station and the Director General of the Police; 26 January 2016 against Mr AHOUMEHOU Michel and Mr BALOGOUN Christel, both lawyers; 12 December 2016, against the Minister of the Interior; 14 February 2017, against the President of the Republic. 45. The Applicant further avers that the Constitutional Court declined jurisdiction to hear the petition against Mr AHOUMEHOU Michel and Mr BALOGOUN Christel, both lawyers, and those against the Commissioner of Police and the Director General of National Police.9 46. He concludes that local remedies were exhausted. *** 47. The Court recalls that in accordance with Article 56(5) of the Charter and Rule 50(2)(e) of its Rules of Court, applications must be filed after exhaustion of local remedies, if any, unless it is clear that the proceedings in respect of such remedies are unduly prolonged.10 48. The Court notes that the requirement of exhaustion of local remedies prior to bringing a case before an international human rights court is an internationally recognised and accepted rule.11 9 Constitutional Court of the Republic of Benin, decisions DCC 16 - 121 of 4 August 2016 and DCC 16164 of 2 November 2016. 10 Andrew Ambrose Cheusi v. United Republic of Tanzania (merits and reparations) (26 June 2020) 4 AfCLR 219, §52. 11 Yacouba Traoré v. Republic of Mali (admissibility) (25 September 2020) 4 AfCLR 665, § 39. 14