African Commission on Human Rights convenes in Senegal

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has commenced its 89th ordinary session in Dakar, Senegal. The assembly includes commissioners, African Union organs, national human rights institutions, and various international and non-governmental organizations. The sessions, which run until October 21, aim to evaluate compliance with international instruments and strengthen ties between the Commission, governments, and civil society.

During a civil society forum held ahead of the session, representatives from approximately 37 countries called for an independent international investigation into allegations that Sudan’s military used chemical weapons during its civil war. These groups are urging Sudanese authorities to grant the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) unrestricted access to suspected facilities and stockpiles to conduct transparent investigations.

The forum also marks the 40th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The demand for a probe follows a US determination that Sudan’s government used chemical weapons during 2024, a finding that led to subsequent sanctions.