Africa’s Human Rights Record Under Fresh Scrutiny
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has reviewed human rights conditions across the continent, urging stronger accountability while raising concerns over delays in countries’ reporting obligations.
For millions of Africans facing discrimination, unlawful detention, gender-based violence, displacement and other human rights violations, the effectiveness of continental protection mechanisms remains a pressing concern.
Against this backdrop, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has concluded its 89th Ordinary Session in Dakar, Senegal, with a renewed focus on strengthening human rights protection, accountability and access to justice across the continent.
The 10-day public session, held from 12 to 21 October 2026, followed a private session conducted online from 21 September to 1 October.
In its final communiqué, adopted on 21 October, the Commission disclosed that it considered 16 human rights communications, comprising eight decisions on the merits, seven on admissibility and one request for a review of a previous decision.
It also approved the referral of one communication to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
A major concern emerging from the session was the poor record of some African countries in meeting their human rights reporting obligations under Article 62 of the African Charter.
The Commission reported that only eight countries were up to date with their periodic reports, while 18 had more than three reports overdue. Five countries had yet to submit their initial reports.
The figures raise questions about the commitment of some governments to regular human rights monitoring and accountability.
The session also recorded progress in strengthening civil society participation, with six non-governmental organisations granted observer status, bringing the total number of accredited NGOs to 606.
Two national human rights institutions from Senegal and Djibouti also received affiliate status, bringing the number of affiliated institutions to 41.
On women’s rights, the Commission examined Botswana’s initial report under the Maputo Protocol, which guarantees the rights of women in Africa.
It also hosted discussions on advancing the rights of women and girls, protecting human rights defenders in West Africa, tackling statelessness and improving conditions for detainees in African prisons.
Other discussions focused on the human rights implications of extractive industries and exploitation in Africa’s international economic relations.
The Commission adopted a resolution on the United Nations General Assembly’s biennial vote calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
It also renewed the mandates of key mechanisms responsible for preventing torture, protecting human rights defenders, promoting freedom of expression and addressing human rights violations linked to extractive industries and environmental concerns.
Three additional draft resolutions, including those addressing the human rights situation in Africa and South Sudan, as well as the development of guidelines for people-centred justice systems, are expected to be considered at an extraordinary session in November 2026.
The gathering attracted 1,662 participants, including representatives of 39 African countries, AU institutions, international organisations, national human rights institutions, civil society groups and the media.
The Commission also considered human rights reports from Mauritius, Zambia and Guinea-Bissau, covering their obligations under the African Charter and relevant regional protocols.
Four publications were launched, including a study on the impact of climate change on human and peoples’ rights in Africa and a tripartite study examining challenges in litigating the rights of women and girls before African Union human rights bodies.
The session was chaired by Commission Chairperson, Commissioner Idrissa Sow, and officially opened by Senegal’s Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Moussa Sarr, representing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The Commission expressed appreciation to the Senegalese government for hosting the session, while welcoming Mozambique’s proposal to host the next ordinary public session in the first half of 2027.
The 89th session ended on 21 October with a closing address by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang.
The Commission’s deliberations come as African governments face growing pressure to translate human rights commitments into concrete protection for citizens, particularly women, children, detainees, displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.
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