The African Court on Human and People’s Rights is likely to join the United Nations Tribunal Mechanism at the Laki-Laki Hills of Arusha, but this will be sometime in 2027.
A new Pan-African Court building to permanently house the African Court on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) now stands at the Laki-Laki Hills a short distance from where the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals is located.
But the new structure needs final touches before the Pan African legal and referral institution could move into the new premises.
As a result, the court will still have to conduct its remaining operations for 2026 at the current premises in Majengo, Arusha.
The current court building is rented from the Tanzania National Parks facilities.
The African Court on Human and People’s Rights, which observed its 20th Anniversary in 2026, was meant to move into the newly constructed courthouse in the course of the year as part of the activities, but it seems now the relocation will take place in 2027.
Preparations continue for the 20th Anniversary Colloquium, alongside the 3rd Tripartite Judicial Dialogue, 7th African Union Judicial Dialogue and other key engagements that have been lined up to mark the occasion.
The African Court on Human and People’s Rights has just completed its 82nd Ordinary Session at its main seat in Arusha, where it handled 29 legal matters from various countries across the continent.
For four weeks running between 31 August and 25 September 2026, the Judges took on a busy program that included handling 9 cases at different stages of consideration.
During the court sessions a total of 6 decisions were delivered, in addition to 14 compliance reviews as well as Judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative matters.
The Court delivered six (6) decisions, or ruling.
Earlier, speaking during the opening the Session, the President of the African Court Honorable Justice Blaise Tchikaya underscored the importance of Judges and the Registry working together to deliver the program within the scheduled four weeks.
The Court will continue to plan and implement activities marking its 20th Anniversary, through a year-long series of initiatives being held across the continent as a way of highlighting its achievements, challenges and contribution to the protection of human and peoples’ rights over the past two decades.
Among the rulings coming up at the African Court this September include the Application No. 027/2019, involving Goore Bi Youzan Jean versus Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
There is also case number 031/2020 pitting Ibrahim Touré against the Republic of Mali
The court also handles application No. 014/2021 involving Souleymane Camara versus the Republic of Mali.
There is also the case number 003/2022 of Mohamed Al Bousifi versus Republic of Niger and application No. 004/2022 involving Kambeyo Kaunda and Others against the Republic of Malawi.
As for the new court buildings, on 2 June 2023 the government of Tanzania officially handed over the construction site to the appointed constructors.
Demonstrating its commitment, the Tanzanian government allocated a budget of USD 1.7 Million in June 2022, and a year later in June 2023 Dar allocated an additional budgetary contribution of USD 2 Million towards the construction.
The estimated total cost for the project was about USD 25,792,811.
Presently, the African Court operates from temporary offices located at the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) buildings.
And when the court first moved into Arusha in 2006, it was hosted at the Arusha International Conference Center (AICC).
The construction of the African Court’s permanent premises which is in the very final stages in Arusha signifies a significant milestone towards enhancing the Court’s institutional capacity and promoting the rule of law within the African continent.
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is a continental legal institution established by African countries and located in Tanzania, to ensure the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.
It complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Court was established by pursuant to Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
It is the Protocol which was adopted by Member States of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in June 1998.
The Protocol came into force on 25 January 2004.
The Court officially started its operations in July 2006 in Addis Ababa and a year later moved to its permanent seat in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Court is composed of 11 Judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity.
The Court meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions.
