African Court President, VP Re-Elected

The president and vice president of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), Hon. Justice Sylvain Oré of Côte d’Ivoire and Hon. Justice Ben Kioko from Kenya respectively have been re-elected for the second and final term of two years each to lead the Bureau.

The closed-door elections were held recently during the Court’s recent 50th Ordinary Session at her seat in Arusha, Tanzania.

President Justice Sylvain Oré thanked the judges of the African Court for their confidence demonstrated in their leadership and pledged his renewed commitment to ensuring that the Court’s values and objectives are taken to even higher heights in the next two years.

‘’We appreciate the Judges acknowledgment of our service to the Court by re-electing us overwhelmingly for another term of two years. We assure you of our full commitment to live to your expectations,’’ Justice Oré told his colleagues.

Justice Oré also used the ceremony to expressed gratitude on behalf of the Court to the people and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for offering a place as seat in the Town of Arusha for the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He formally welcomed the three new judges who recently took assignment at the Court including Justice Blaise Tchikaya of the Republic of Congo, Judge Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Judge Imani Aboud of the United Republic of Tanzania.

“Honorable colleagues, may I congratulate you on your elections to the Court by your respective countries. You have gone through the race and you are right here to commit yourself to the cause of justice in Africa,’’ Justice Oré urged the new judges.

Judge Oré was elected for the first time as judge of the African Court in 2010 for a four-year term and he was re-elected in 2014 for a second term while Justice Ben Kioko was elected in July 2012 for a six-year term before this current re-election for another period of six years.

The program was graced by the vice president of Tanzania, Her Excellency Madam Samia Suhulu Hassan who reminded the judges that their appointments to serve at the apex of Human Rights Court on the continent should not be taken for granted.

“This signifies the confidence reposed in you by your individual countries by nominating you and the trust African Heads of States have in appointing you, but more importantly, it demonstrates African citizens’ reliance on you as the guarantor and protector of their rights,’’ the female Tanzanian VP cautioned the African Court justices.