The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has indicated that it has entertained 882 human rights complaints, with 177 complaints currently pending.
The continental rights commission disclosed this in a press release regarding its pre-mission to the 89th Ordinary Session in Dakar, taking place from 8 to 12 September 2026.
The 89th Ordinary Session of the commission is expected to witness the launch of the ACHPR commemorative anniversaries.
This important engagement with the ACHPR delegation will provide an opportunity to reflect on key priorities ahead of the 89th Ordinary Session and to highlight a particularly significant milestone: the 40th anniversary (Ruby Jubilee) of the entry into force of the African Charter, which will be commemorated during the session in Dakar.
This anniversary marks four decades of engagement, dialogue and collective efforts to advance shared regional objectives.
About the African Commission
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights was established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), which came into force on 21 October 1986.
The Commission is composed of eleven (11) members—nationals of Member States of the African Union (AU)—who all serve in their individual capacities, on a part-time basis, in an independent and impartial manner.
The members are elected by the Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.
Members serve for a period of six (6) years and are eligible for re-election. The Commission, which has its headquarters in Banjul, The Gambia, became operational in 1987.
The Commission holds two (2) ordinary sessions a year; it also holds extraordinary sessions as the need arises. The Commission has held eighty-eight (88) ordinary sessions—with October 2025 marking the 88th Ordinary Session—and thirty-eight (38) extraordinary sessions since its inception.
Mandate of the Commission
The mandate of the Commission*,* as set out in Article 45 of the African Charter*,* is four-fold: to promote human and peoples’ rights on the continent; to protect human and peoples’ rights on the continent; to interpret the provisions of the African Charter at the request of a State Party, an institution of the OAU/AU, or an African organization recognized by the OAU/AU; and to perform any other functions that may be entrusted to it by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU/AU.
Operational Modalities
The Commission has devised a number of strategies to effectively discharge this extensive mandate:
Promotional Missions: The Commission undertakes official missions to AU Member States to promote human rights.
Special Mechanisms: The Commission has established 12 thematic special mechanisms to address human rights issues of particular concern to the Commission, comprising 5 Special Rapporteurs, 2 follow-up committees, and 5 working groups.
Consideration of Complaints: In line with the African Charter, the Commission receives and considers allegations of human rights violations submitted to it by Member States and individuals/NGOs. Among other things, the Commission undertakes research into the complaints and prepares decisions at each of the three stages of its consideration namely: seizure, admissibility, and merits.
The Commission, through its Secretariat, also keeps Member States and complainants abreast of developments regarding their cases, and follows up on the implementation of its decisions.
“Since its establishment, the Commission has entertained eight hundred and eighty-two (882) human rights complaints, and at the moment, there are one hundred and seventy-seven (177) human rights complaints currently pending before the Commission, generally referred to as Communications,” stated the ACHPR.
