AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE

African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights

UNIÃO AFRICANA

Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme & des Peuples

31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, Western Region, P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia

Tel: (220) 4410505 / 4410506; Fax: (220) 4410504

E-mail: [log in to unmask]; Web www.achpr.org

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Deeply concerned by allegations that on 21 September 2009, H.E. President Sheikh

Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh allegedly stated in a national television

broadcast that he would kill anyone, especially human rights defenders and their

supporters, whom he considered to be sabotaging or destabilizing his Government;

Considering that the alleged threats undermine the safety and security of members

and staff of the African Commission, and human rights defenders who participate in

the activities of the African Commission, including in the 46th Ordinary Session

scheduled to take place from 11 to 25 November 2009 in Banjul, The Gambia, whose

Agenda will address the human rights situation in Africa;

Convinced that the alleged statement calls into question the commitment of the

Republic of The Gambia to the fundamental principles and objectives of the

Constitutive Act of the African Union, the African Charter and other regional and

international human rights instruments;

Recalling that the Headquarters Agreement between the African Union and the

Republic of The Gambia on the establishment of the Headquarters of the African

Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in The Gambia guarantees the

inviolability of the members and staff of the African Commission and participants in

the activities organized by the African Commission:

(i) CALLS on the African Union to intervene with immediate effect to ensure

that H.E. President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh

withdraws the threats made in his statement;

(ii) FURTHER CALLS on the African Union to ensure that the Republic of The

Gambia guarantees the safety and security of the members and staff of the

African Commission, human rights defenders, including journalists in The

Gambia, and all participants in the activities of the African Commission

taking place in The Gambia;

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(iii) REQUESTS the African Union to authorize and provide extra-budgetary

resources to the African Commission to ensure that the 46th Ordinary

Session is convened and held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or any other

Member State of the African Union, in the event that His Excellency the

President of The Republic of The Gambia does not withdraw his threats

and the Government cannot guarantee the safety and security of the

members and staff of the African Commission and the participants of the

46th Ordinary Session;

(iv) REQUESTS the African Union to consider relocating the Secretariat of the

African Commission in the event that the human rights situation in the

Republic of The Gambia does not improve;

(v) URGES the Government of the Republic of The Gambia to implement the

recommendations of its previous Resolutions, in particular, Resolution No.

ACHPR/Res. 134(XXXXIV)2008, adopted during the 44th Ordinary Session

held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 10 to 24 November 2008, and to investigate

the disappearance and/or killing of prominent journalists Deyda Hydara

and Ebrima Chief Manneh.

 Done on 11 October 2009, in Dakar, Senegal.
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