Legal Affairs
The African Union is committed to Strengthening a people centered Union through active communication of the programmes of the African Union, the branding of the Union and participation of Member States and other stakeholders in defining and implementing the African agenda.
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January 22, 2017 -
January 29, 2016His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia signed three AU treaties at the headquarters of the African Union on 29 January 2016 titled,
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January 28, 2016 -
December 16, 2015 to December 18, 2015What:
Expert Consultation on African Transitional Justice Policy Framework, African Union Project 2016, And Human Rights and Transitional Justice Cluster’s Meeting;When:
16th December – 18 December 2015 -
April 02, 2015Addis Ababa – 2 April 2015: the African Union and the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish a partnership with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of both parties in their efforts to promote democracy, good governance, human and peoples’ rights, constitutionalism, fair and free elections and rule of law in Africa.
Under the MOU the Commission and CCJA shall cooperate closely and undertake joint actions and activities to implement the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the 2002 African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and other relevant instruments.Professor Vincent Nmehielle, the AU Legal Counsel and Professor Theodore Holo, President of the Constitutional Court of Benin and President of CCJA, signed the MOU on 2 April 2015 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the presence of Mr. Naïm Akibou Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Benin to the African Union, a Representative of the Permanent Mission of Algeria to the AU, Mr. Calixte Mbari representing the Department of Political Affairs and other Officials of the Commission.
Under the terms of the MOU, the overall objective of the Partnership shall be to strengthen the institutional ties between the Commission, through the Office of the Legal Counsel and the Department of Political Affairs as well as other relevant Departments of the Commission, and CCJA in the field of democracy, good governance, human and peoples’ rights, constitutionalism, fair and free elections and rule of law.
The objectives of the Partnership shall be achieved through:
Ø Granting CCJA an observer’s status to the AU, as an organization made up of institutions of Member States of the AU;
Ø Regular consultations between the Commission and CCJA on policies and procedures;
Ø Joint training programmes and workshops;
Ø Development and implementation of joint projects in the areas covered by this MoU.
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March 12, 2015AFRICAN UNION EVALUATES PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE HISSENE HABRE TRIAL
Dakar, 12 March 2015 – Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle, Legal Counsel of the African Union Legal Counsel and Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Funding of the Hissene Habre Trial says all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre, former president of Tchad from 1982 until 1990, was carried out in line with fair trial standards. The Legal Counsel was speaking in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 11 March 2015 while chairing the 7th ordinary session of the Steering Committee responsible for the funding of the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre, on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The purpose of the meeting was to consider preparations for the commencement of the Habre trial particularly since the investigation stage and the confirmation of charges were completed in February 2015; the financial and activity report of the African Extraordinary Chambers (AEC) for the period of July to December 2014; the Draft Communication Strategy of AEC; and the third quarter outreach report.
The Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Chad, Mr Mahamat Issa Halikimi, who was attending the Steering Committee meeting reiterated the commitment of the Government of Chad to fully cooperate and to ensure that the trial was properly done in a fair and transparent manner especially since the trial was a historical moment for Africa. “This will be the first time that an African former Head of State will be tried in the continent by an African Judicial Mechanism” he underlined. The Minister expressed appreciation for the work done so far by the African Extraordinary Chambers, the Government of Senegal and the African Union and the Partners to ensure that the Decision of the AU Heads of State and Government with respect to the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre was fully implemented.
The AU Legal Counsel informed the members of the Steering Committee of that the AU delegation and the administrative officials of the Chambers would on 12 March 2015 carry out a visit to the detention center where Mr. Hissene Habre was being held to ensure that appropriate detention standards were complied with as observed by the AU delegation and other members of the Steering Committee in such previous visits since the detention of Habre on 2 July 2013. Mr Habre was indicted by the African Extraordinary Chambers for war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity.
It is worth recalling that the African Extraordinary Chambers is a Special mechanism set up by the African Union and the Government of the Republic of Senegal to try the most responsible perpetrators of the international crimes committed in Chad during the reign of president Habre from 1982 to 1990.
For more information, please contact the Office of Legal Counsel of the AU at the following address: E-mail: CamaraF@africa-union.org.
Interview requests should be addressed to Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union, Tel: +251 911361185 E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com
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November 11, 2014Union Commission on the Hissene Habré case, received by President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad
Ndjamena, 11 November 2014 - H.E Justice Robert Dossou, Special Representative of H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission was received in audience on Tuesday 11 November 2014 by H.E. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad and Head of State, in the presence of Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle, the Legal Counsel of the AU and other officials of the AU Commission.
The visit of the AU Delegation to Chad falls within the framework of ongoing consultations on the implementation of the Decisions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), on the Hissene Habre Case.
Discussions during this meeting was aimed at enhancing and consolidating the cooperation between the Chadian Government and the Extraordinary African Chambers in a bid to continue with the pending trial of Former President of Chad, Hissene Habre, curently in detention in Dakar.
During the audience, Justice Dossou informed President Idriss Deby that the AUC Chairperson is concerned about the possible delay in the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre and decided to send this special mission to engage in consultations with the different authorities of Chad and Senegal in terms of consolidating the cooperation between the two countries in order to ensure a smooth trial. “ Dr. Dlamini Zuma would like to see that Africa’s judicial system is respected for its capacity to resolve its own problems”, underlined the Special Represententive of the AUC Chairperson. He added that the AU will ensure that the trial is undertaken genuinely; in a fair and transparent manner ,which will help to bolster the confidence of the African citizens in African processes.
President Idriss Deby saluted the initiative of the AUC Chairperson in sending the delegation. He expressed the willingness for his Government to cooperate, which will only go to help in ensuring justice and peace in Chad. The President stressed that the successful completion of this trial will be a great stride not only for the people of Chad but also to the entire African continent, as this will confirm that Africa has the competence and capacity to handle its own problems.
Justice Dossou who is a Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin and Former President of the Constitutional Court of Benin and the delegation had earlier on Monday 10 November 2014 met with H.E. Mahamat Issa Halikimi, Honourable Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Chad to exchange views on the way forward to facilitate the work of the court in expediting the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre.
The Minister of Justice reiterated Chad’s Government’s comitment to cooperate with the African Union’s efforts to seriously address the issue of impunity.“ The Chadian Government is mostly concerned with this issue so that justice could be rendered to the people of Chad and also for justice to prevail for all of Africa”, he emphacised.
Both the AUC Chairperson Special Representative and the Legal Counsel of the AU expressed the wish of H.E Dr. Dlamini Zuma for the Habre case to be concluded in a fair and transparent manner.
In the same context, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and his delegation will travel to Dakar from 17 to 22 November 2014 to meet with the Senegalese authorities, the Administrator of the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) and Members of the Steering Committee for the funding of the trial. The Extraordinary African Chambers was established in Dakar with the mandate to investigate and prosecute the most responsible (s) of the international crimes committed in Chad from 1982 to 1990. Mr. Hissene Habré, Former President of Chad is accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture during his presidency from 1982 to 1990.Interview requests should be addressed to Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union, Tel: +251 911361185 E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com
For more information, please contact the Office of Legal Counsel of the AU at the following address: Tel: +251 11 518 23 , E-mail: CamaraF@africa-union.org.
For further information contact
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November 10, 2014Ndjamena, le 11 Novembre 2014 - SE M. Robert Dossou, Représentant Spécial de SE Mme Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Présidente de la Commission de l'Union africaine (UA) a été reçu en audience le mardi 11 Novembre 2014 par S.E.M Idriss Deby Itno, Président de la République du Tchad et Chef de l'Etat, en présence du professeur Vincent O. Nmehielle, le Conseiller juridique de l'Union africaine et d'autres fonctionnaires de la Commission de l'UA.
La visite de la délégation de l'UA au Tchad se tient dans le cadre des consultations en cours sur la mise en œuvre des décisions de la Conference des Chefs d'Etat et de Gouvernement de l'Union africaine (UA), sur l’ affaire Hissène Habré.
Les discussions lors de cette rencontre visaient à renforcer et consolider la coopération entre le Gouvernement tchadien et les Chambres Extraordinaires Africaines (CEA) en
Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission E mail: dinfo@africa-union.orgvue de la tenue du procès de l'ancien président du Tchad, Monsieur Hissène Habré, presentement en detention à Dakar.
Lors de cette audience, Maitre Dossou a fait part au Président Idriss Deby Itno de la préoccupation de la Présidente de la Commission de l’UA concernant un éventuel retard dans la procedure engagée pour le jugement de M. Hissène Habré et qui a décidé d'envoyer cette mission de haut niveau en vue d’ engager des consultations avec les différentes autorités du Tchad et du Sénégal pour s’assurer de la coopération effective et le soutien de ces pays afin de faciliter la tenue de ce procès. "Pour le Dr. Dlamini Zuma, la tenue de ce procès renforcera le respect du système judiciaire africain et la capacité de l’afrique à résoudre ses propres problèmes", a souligné le Representant Spécial de Présidente de la Commission de l’UA. Il a également ajouté que l'UA veillera à ce que le procès se tienne de manière équitable et transparente, ce qui contribuera à renforcer la confiance des citoyens africains dans les mécanismes africains.Le Président Idriss Deby Itno a salué l'initiative de la Présidente de la Commission de l’UA d’envoyer cette delegation et a exprimé la volonté et l’engagement de son gouvernement de coopérer, pour que ce procès se tienne dans les meilleurs delais en vue de rendre justice au peuple tchadien et consolider la paix au Tchad. Le Président a également souligné que la tenue de ce procès sera une grande avancée non seulement pour le Tchad, mais aussi pour l'ensemble du continent africain, car cela va confirmer que l'Afrique a la compétence et la capacité de régler ses propres problèmes.
Dans la meme veine, Me Dossou qui est aussi l’ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères de la République du Bénin et ancien président de la Cour Constitutionnelle de ce pays, et sa délégation ont été recu par Monsieur Mahamat Issa Halikimi, Ministre de la Justice et des Droits de l’Homme du Tchad. Leurs entretiens ont porté sur la voie à suivre pour faciliter le travail des Chambres africaines extraordinaires en vue de la tenue dans un délai raisonnable du procès de M. Hissène Habré.
Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission E mail: dinfo@africa-union.orgLe ministre de la Justice a réitéré l'engagement du Gouvernement du Tchad à coopérer avec l'Union Africaine pour la tenue du procès de M. Habré. "Le gouvernement tchadien est préoccupé par cette question et demande que justice soit rendue au peuple Tchadien en partiulier et pour toute l'Afrique en general ", at-il souligné.
Le Représentant Spécial de la Presidente de la Commission de l’UA et le Conseiller juridique de l'Union africaine ont tous les deux exprimé le souhait de SE Dr. Dlamini Zuma de voir tenir le procès de M. Habré de manière équitable et transparente.
A l’issue de cette mission, M. Dossou et sa délégation se rendront à Dakar du 17 au 22 Novembre 2014 pour rencontrer les autorités sénégalaises, l'Administrateur des Chambres africaines extraordinaires (CAE) et les membres du Comité de pilotage pour le financement des CAE.
Les Chambres africaines Extraordinaires ont été créées à Dakar avec pour mandat d'enquêter et de poursuivre le ou les principaux responsables des crimes internationaux commis au Tchad entre 1982 et 1990. M. Hissène Habré, ancien President du Tchad est accusé de crimes contre l’humanité, de crimes de guerre et de torture durant sa présidence de 1982 à 1990.Pour toute demande d’interview, veuillez-vous adresser à Mme Esther Azaa Tankou, Chef de Division de l’Information, Direction de l’Information et de la Communication de l’Union Africaine,
Tel : +251 911361185,
E-mail : yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.comPour plus d’information, veuillez contacter le Bureau du Conseiller juridique de l’UA a l’Adresse suivante : Tel : +251 11 518 23 07,
E-mail :CamaraF@africa-union.org .Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez contacter
Direction de l'Information et de la Communication |Commission de l' Union africaine E-mail: SiteWebdinfo@african-union.orgI:www.au.intjeAddis-Abeba|Ethiopie
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October 24, 2014The African Union and Loyola University Chicago sign milestone Memorandum of Understanding to build capacity within the African Union
WASHINGTON, DC – USA – 24 October 2014: the African Union and Loyola University Chicago signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that signifies a multi-year program of cooperation designed to build capacity within the African Union, its Member States, and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), to strengthen governance and the rule of law.
Under the MOU, Loyola will partner the AU to train and educate the staff of the AU, RECS and AU Member States to strengthen their capacity to advance the rule of law throughout the region, an effort to be driven by African rule of law leaders and represent a dynamic force for change.
Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, the AU Legal Counsel and Prof. David Yellen, Dean of the School of Law at Loyola University Chicago, signed the MOU on 24 October 2014 at the AU Representational Mission to the United States of America in Washington, DC, in the presence of Amb. Amina Salum Ali, the AU representative to the US and senior staff of the office, representatives of Loyola University; the US State Department, the African diplomatic corps; the World Bank, and other invited guests.
Reinforcing Loyola’s commitment to peace and justice, the School of Law offers an innovative Master of Laws (LLM) in Rule of Law for Development. Launched in 2011, this unique program called PROLAW, provides training to advance social justice across the globe through effective, sustainable governance, and strengthening of the rule of law. PROLAW is organized at Loyola University’s Chicago John Felice Rome Center in Italy.
Under the terms of the MOU, selected staff and employees of the AU, officials of AU Member States and staff of the RECS will attend PROLAW’s one-year, degree-granting program. Upon graduation, individuals will return to their home countries or respective organizations to assume the task of strengthening governance and the rule of law. In addition, Loyola will implement bi-annual, complementary seminars and workshops at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to further the development of AU staff. The program of cooperation is expected to educate more than 100 rule of law professionals over the next three years. The U.S. Department of State has played a key role in supporting the work outlined in the agreement.
For more information, visit http://www.au.int
About the African Union
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peacewith itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable,efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/
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August 25, 2014 to August 26, 2014Brainstorming on the Strategy to Speed up Ratification, Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties in Eastern Africa Region
Nairobi, Kenya – 26 August 2014. The African Union Commission (AUC) through its Office of the Legal Counsel, convened a two (2) day brainstorming session on strategies to harmonise and speed up ratification, accession and implementation as well as to identify best practices on reporting, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms on the implementation of OAU/AU Treaties in the Eastern Africa Region, through the Ministerial Committee on the challenges of ratification/accession and implementation of OAU/AU treaties.
“The slow pace of ratification and implementation of decisions on the OAU/AU treaties by AU Member States is a major concern to achieve the objectives related to economic, social, cultural, and political integration of the African continent”, said the Chair of the meeting Mr. Mapango Kemishanga Gerard, Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee on the Challenges of Ratification/Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties, in his opening remarks.
Representatives from Member States of the Eastern Africa Region, experts of the Ministerial Committee set up by the AU, independent experts, representatives from various departments of the AUC as well as representatives from the civil society presented their perspectives, and discussed and identified the main reasons for the slow pace of signature, ratification and implementation of OAU/AU treaties. Challenges including lack of political will, lack of coordination, bureaucracy, lack of human resources, financial constraints were highlighted as key challenges in the process.
“It is important to firstly identify, with accuracy, the causes of the slow pace of ratification and implementation of OAU/AU treaties”, said Mrs. Beatrice Karogo, representative of the Head of Legal Affairs Directorate on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Kenya in her welcoming statement.
The major outcomes of the brainstorming include improved appreciation of the importance of OAU/AU treaties by Member States as well as increased ability of the ministerial committee to support, sensitise and enhance the commitment of Member States to the need for signature, ratification and implementation of the various legal instruments.
“The number of states that are parties to a treaty is of paramount importance. Indeed, AU treaty regimes represent a network of legal relationships between AU Member States. If a significant number of Member States are not part of the regime, its overall effectiveness will be diminished. In order to address this perennial problem, the AUC proposed the establishment of a Ministerial Committee on the Challenges of Ratification/Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties. Our objective is to ensure that the Ministerial Committee holds its inaugural session in January/June 2015 and the experts of the said Committee approve the recommendations of this meeting” declared Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle, the Legal Counsel and Director for Legal Affairs of the African Union Commission, in his opening remarks.
The ratification/accession and implementation of the OAU/AU legal instruments require a deeper commitment of the African Union member states since the principles enshrined in those treaties represent the common shared values for those member states. In particular, ratification implies the acceptance by the states not only of the legal obligations enshrined in the instruments, but also their commitment to respond to Africa’s common development and integration challenges.
The brainstorming session strongly recommended that the national sectorial committees should be operationalized in each member State by January/June 2015. Furthermore, the meeting recommended that the ministerial committee should select a list of treaties related to the Agenda 2063 and of paramount importance to the integration of the continent which each Member State should ratify within a one year period.
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July 11, 2014MEDIA ADVISORY
Press Conference on the AU Summit Decision on the Protocol on African Court of Human and Peoples Rights
What: Press Conference on the AU Summit Decision on the Protocol on African Court of Human and Peoples Rights
When: Friday, 11 July 2014, @11:30a.m.
Where: Media Briefing Room 1, AU Commission Conference Complex,
Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWho: AU Legal Counsel, Prof. Vincent Nmehielle
Background:
During the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union that held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 26-27 June 2014, the Assembly adopted a protocol on the draft statute of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, extending criminal jurisdiction to the court. One of the provisions, amongst others, was to extend immunity to serving heads of states and all senior government officials during their term of office.
At the press conference on Friday, the AU Legal Counsel will be throwing more light on the Protocol, while clarifying the misperception of “Blanket immunity” granted to African Leaders.Contact for confirmation or other media inquiries:
Mrs. Wynne Musabayana, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission, e-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.orgFollow us
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May 16, 2014First Session of the Special Technical Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs of the African Union concluded with concrete recommendations on way forward
Addis Ababa, 16 May 2014: The Meeting of Special Technical Committee (STC) on Justice and Legal Affairs (Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General, Ministers responsible for Issues such as Human Rights, Constitutionalism and Rule of Law) which was organized by the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission concluded on 16 May 2014 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The ministerial Session of the STC on Justice and Legal affairs considered and adopted seven (7) draft legal instruments and recommended them for consideration by the Assembly through the Executive Council at the forthcoming Summit of the African Union to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June 2014. The meeting adopted the following Draft Legal Instruments:i) Draft African Union Convention on Cross-border Cooperation (Niamey Convention);
ii) Draft African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development;
iii) Draft Protocol and Statute on the Establishment of the African Monetary Fund;
iv) Draft African Union Convention on Cyberspace Security and Protection of Personal Data;
v) Draft Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights;
vi) Draft Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union on the Pan-African Parliament;
vii) Draft Rules of Procedure of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Justice and Legal Affairs.In closing remarks, the Chairperson of the meeting, Prof. FOGUI Jean Pierre, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Justice/ Attorney General of the Republic of Cameroon thanked the Minsters and Delegates, the Government Legal Experts, the Legal Counsel, the staff of the Office of the Legal Counsel, representatives of various departments of the Commission and all who contributed to the successful completion of the deliberation.
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was created in 2009 as an independent advisory organ in accordance with article 5(2) of the AU Constitutive Act. Article 5(2) provides for the Assembly to establish organs as it deems necessary. Undertake activities relating to codification and progressive development of international law in Africa with particular attention to the laws of the AU
AU advisory board on corruption:
The Advisory Board on Corruption was established as part of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which entered into force in August 2006. Under article 22(5) of the Convention, the Board is mandated to promote and encourage States Parties to adopt measures and actions to meet the Convention objectives and to follow up the application of those measures.
was established in 1987 to oversee and interpret the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (also known as the Banjul Charter).
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights:
has jurisdiction over all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning the interpretation and application of the: African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Protocol that established the Court; and any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the State Party concerned.
African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child:
draws its mandate from articles 32–46 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC).
The OLC also provides legal advice on cooperation with international or internationalised judicial accountability mechanisms, and legal services for special political missions, peacekeeping operations and other field missions on matters such as diplomatic privileges and immunities, and the legal status of the organisation. The AU Commission on International Law Secretariat is located at the OLC.
