Elise Cannuel

[Agnes Callamard @AgnesCallamard]

For International Justice, at a time when the USA steps up its war against the International Criminal Court, @amnesty publishes a report on the African Court for Human Rights which celebrates its twentieth anniversary. the report, ‘20 years of the African Court – Protect the Court, Protect the People’, examines the successes achieved and the challenges faced in two decades by the Court, which serves as an important regional judicial avenue for individuals and civil society organizations.

Our main calls:
➡️AU member states must do more to enable the African Court to fully live up to its promise.
➡️Every AU member state should ratify the African Court Protocol
➡️Every AU member state should make the declaration that would allow individuals and NGOs to directly access the Court, so that the African Court is able to continue to protect human rights in a meaningful way for decades to come.

Since becoming operational in 2006, the African Court has finalized over 250 cases, including almost 150 in which it determined whether one or several human rights violations had been committed. Many of the Court’s final judgments relate to the rights to a fair trial, to dignity and to be free from torture and other ill-treatment for detainees, and to election-related matters.

In addition, the African Court has issued several landmark decisions, including concerning the protection of the most vulnerable. Among them, the Zongo and Konaté judgments against Burkina Faso in 2014 strengthened media freedom in the law and the fight against impunity for attacks against journalists in the country. The Ogiek case against Kenya in 2017 affirmed the recognition of the rights of an indigenous community while the 2023 judgment against Côte d’Ivoire concerning the dumping of chemical waste by privately-owned Probo Koala cargo ship developed crucial jurisprudence for the protection of the environment and peoples’ right to health. Most recently in 2025, the Court issued an important decision related to combating discrimination and attacks against persons with albinism in Tanzania.

But African leaders themselves must do more to support the Court.

Twenty-one AU member states have yet to ratify the Protocol establishing the African Court. Only a dozen have ever made the requisite declaration allowing individuals and NGOs to petition the Court directly. Of these, five states (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia) withdrew the declaration, depriving their people of an avenue for justice.

Other actors entitled to bring cases directly to the African Court such as African intergovernmental organizations and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights have rarely done so. The Commission, another AU body charged with promoting and protecting human rights, has only referred three cases to the African Court over the last 20 years.

The report also documents delays by states parties to the African Court Protocol and African Union member states in putting in place measures ordered by the Court to remedy human rights violations. The AU political bodies, particularly the Executive Council, have not been proactive enough in ensuring that the Court’s judgments, binding in nature, are promptly followed by state actions.

The full report: https://t.co/5Xd2XPTALa

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

New report out: the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights turns 20.
Our report takes stock of the Court’s first two decades. Limited access to the Court remains one of the biggest challenges. Low implementation of its decisions is another one. Nevertheless, the Court has established itself as an important regional court for the protection and promotion of #humanrights.
#Africa
https://t.co/zDVk6nRhsp

[amnestypress @amnestypress]

🔈New report out today: 20 years of the African Court
Despite challenges, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has established itself as an important regional court for the protection and promotion of #HumanRights in #Africa
Read more:

https://t.co/W4VmSNDwdO

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Nouveau rapport : la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples a 20 ans.
Notre rapport dresse un bilan de ces deux décennies d’existence. L’accès limité à la Cour demeure l’un des principaux défis. La faible mise en œuvre de ses décisions en est un autre. Mais la Cour s’est établie comme une importante juridiction régionale pour la protection et la promotion des droits humains.

https://t.co/OiY6LzxL1h

[Amnesty International Nigeria @AmnestyNigeria]

Today in Kano Nigeria, Amnesty International held a campaign and solidarity programme for Sudan, calling for an immediate ceasefire, and for the urgent deployment of an international force to protect civilians. #KeepEyesOnSudan

[amnestypress @amnestypress]

📢Tomorrow Amnesty International will launch a new report on the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, taking stock of the Court’s first two decades of existence.
⚠️Media: write to [email protected] for a copy.
#HumanRights #Africa

[amnestypress @amnestypress]

In #Guinea, two years after the enforced disappearance of FNDC activists, abductions and disappearances continue with impunity
We reiterate the extreme gravity of the crime of enforced disappearance, which no circumstances, however exceptional, can justify
https://t.co/JNuIueN0pa

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Guinée : où sont Oumar Sylla et Mamadou Billo Bah?
Deux ans après la disparition forcée des deux activistes du FNDC, les enlèvements et disparitions se poursuivent dans l’impunité.
Amnesty International, la Coordination des Organisations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme de Guinée et le Réseau Ouest-Africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains demandent aux autorités guinéennes de révéler le sort de toutes les victimes d’enlèvements et de disparitions forcées.
A lire sur notre site Internet
https://t.co/slBBeFpBco

[amnestypress @amnestypress]

🔴Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: Withdrawal from the Rome Statute consecrates impunity
This decision threatens to deny thousands of victims the possibility of truth, justice and reparations. #HumanRights #Sahel
Read our full reaction

https://t.co/7nAsbR3L0M

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Burkina Faso, Mali et Niger : le retrait de la Cour pénale internationale consacre l’impunité et menace de priver les victimes de crimes de guerre de justice et de réparations.
Lisez notre réaction :
https://t.co/tc17I0bp39

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

In #Sudan, RSF atrocities in El Fasher are ‘a stain on the conscience of humanity’.
🔴 RSF committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing
🔴 Children were deliberately targeted by RSF fighters during attacks
🔴 Ceasefire and international protection force are urgently needed.

Read our latest report
https://t.co/JvdLR770Bc

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Au #Soudan, les atrocités commises par les Forces d’appui rapide à El Fasher viennent « entacher la conscience de l’humanité ».
🔴 Les FAR se sont rendues coupables de crimes contre l’humanité et de nettoyage ethnique
🔴 Des enfants ont été délibérément pris pour cible par les combattants des FAR
🔴 Il est urgent d’instaurer un cessez-le-feu et de déployer une force internationale de protection.

Lisez notre nouveau rapport
https://t.co/optXHzebOF

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

🔴#RDC : Le CMC-FDP, un groupe armé soutenu par les Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo, a tué et torturé des civil·e·s, pillé des biens et enlevé des femmes, les réduisant à l’état d’esclaves sexuelles dans le territoire de Rutshuru, dans l’est du pays.

Les autorités de la RDC condamnent souvent les violences du M23 mais ignorent la violence et les atteintes aux #droitshumains du même ordre commises par les Wazalendo, y compris le CMC-FDP.

A lire sur notre site Internet

https://t.co/1UoKZyH4nO

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

🔴 La décision du #Niger de se retirer du statut de la Cour pénale internationale est un immense pas en arrière dans la lutte contre l'impunité des crimes les plus graves.
Cette décision sera effective le 18 juin 2027.
Les civil.e.s victimes des crimes commis par toutes les parties au conflit armé doivent pouvoir obtenir justice et réparations, conformément au droit national et aux conventions internationales de protection des droits humains ratifiées par le Niger.

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

#CotedIvoire: Meet Kajeem, the reggae-man who celebrates #humanrights
"Freedom of expression was one of the first rights I sought to assert," he says.
Kajeem has been working with @Amnesty_CI for over a dozen years as a human rights ambassador.
He released on 22 June 2026 the song “En toute liberté” with Didier Awadi and Soum Bill from Côte d’Ivoire.
https://t.co/F5s0BX1fcR

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

#BurkinaFaso: Prominent Journalist Serge Oulon Forcibly Disappeared 2 Years On
Burkina Faso’s authorities should urgently account for the journalist Atiana Serge Oulon, who was forcibly disappeared by state security forces two years ago, and release him immediately.

Read the joint press release issued by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Observatoire Kisal, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership between the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), and Reporters Without Border
https://t.co/qyZTYWErCn

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Burkina Faso : deux ans après, l’éminent journaliste d'investigation Serge Oulon toujours porté disparu

Les autorités du Burkina Faso devraient fournir d’urgence des informations sur la disparition forcée du journaliste Serge Oulon, commise par des agents de l’État il y a deux ans, et le libérer immédiatement.

Lisez le communiqué conjoint d'Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, l’Observatoire Kisal, l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits humains – un partenariat entre la Fédération internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH) et l’Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT) – et Reporters sans frontières.
https://t.co/Ezk1KQDKHF

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Côte d'Ivoire : rencontrez Kajeem, le reggae-man qui célèbre les droits humains
"La liberté d’expression est un des premiers droits que j’ai voulu revendiquer."
Kajeem travaille avec Amnesty International depuis une douzaine d’années en tant qu’ambassadeur des droits humains.
Ce 22 juin, Kajeem, Didier Awadi et Soum Bill sortent le titre “En toute liberté”.

https://t.co/JM9RVrzw4e

[Amnesty West & Central Africa @AmnestyWARO]

Deux ans après la suspension des activités de l'usine de recyclage de batteries au plomb Metssa par le ministère de l'Environnement du Congo en raison d'un risque majeur pour la santé des résidents de Vindoulou
- le démantèlement de l'usine n'est pas terminé
- aucun dépistage à grande échelle n’a été mené
- les résidents attendent toujours d’être informés.

Cyrille Traoré Ndembi, président du Collectif des résidents de Vindoulou, vit à 10 mètres de l'usine Metssa. Il continue de se battre pour les droits humains de sa communauté.
Lisez son témoignage :

https://t.co/bkTQc4ZQuU

[amnestypress @amnestypress]

#CAR: Trial of former president Bozizé for war crimes and crimes against humanity tarnished by his absence
It is essential that François Bozizé is arrested, extradited and faces the court in person.
Read our full reaction here:

https://t.co/AP0f9RN5kO