The new building to host the African Court on Human and People’s Rights will be ready for occupation by the year 2025.
The President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, has commended the Tanzanian government for fulfilling its promise to construct the permanent premises of the Pan-African Judicial body in Arusha City.
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 is about USD 25,792,811.
During the site handing over ceremony at LakiLaki area, located 25 kilometers on the outskirts of Arusha town, Justice Imani Daud Aboud emphasized Tanzania’s dedication to fulfilling its promise of constructing the African Court’s permanent premises.
She expressed optimism that the Court would be ready for occupation within the next 24 months.
Presently, the African Court operates from temporary offices located at the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) buildings, pending the completion of the permanent premises.
The construction of the African Court’s permanent premises 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 court established by African countries 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.