The 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) convened at a time when the African continent is witnessing a shocking escalation in conflicts and democratic repression. In June, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) intensified dramatically, with renewed clashes in the eastern provinces displacing tens of thousands and exposing civilians to atrocities amid growing regional tensions. In Sudan, the devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has continued to unleash one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, marked by mass displacement, starvation, and widespread sexual violence.
Just days before the start of the session, Cameroon was gripped by heightened tension following delayed election results and post-electoral violence that claimed at least four lives—an incident that laid bare the fragility of democratic institutions and the deepening repression of civic freedoms. Similarly, in Tanzania, restrictive legislation and the persecution of journalists and opposition voices cast a shadow over the upcoming elections, as civic space continues to shrink and human rights defenders face growing risks for their work.
Against this backdrop, from 21 to 30 October 2025, our participation at the 85th Ordinary Session underscored the urgent need for stronger regional and international coordination to protect human rights defenders (HRDs) and safeguard democratic governance. Held in The Gambia, the session provided a vital platform for dialogue, accountability, and collaboration among state representatives, national human rights institutions, and civil society actors across the continent.
Our 14-member delegation’s engagement at the session and in the preceding NGO Forum under the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” was guided by a commitment to amplify the voices of HRDs across Africa. Through panel discussions, bilateral engagements, and side events, we worked to spotlight urgent human rights concerns and call for meaningful action.
Preceding the Commission session, part of our delegation attended the three-day NGO Forum, which featured ten engaging and thought-provoking panel discussions. The Forum concluded with the adoption of country-specific resolutions addressing critical human rights concerns in the East and Horn of Africa, including the DRC, Sudan, and Kenya. Additionally, a thematic resolution on shrinking civic space was adopted. These resolutions were submitted to the Commission for consideration during the session. Participants also recommended that the African Commission prioritise digital rights and the protection of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
A defining moment of the public session was the presentation of findings from the Joint Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, following a virtual inquiry conducted from June 2024 to March 2025. The investigation, which drew on written submissions, oral testimonies, and digital evidence covering events since April 2023, revealed grave violations and a total disregard for the sanctity of life. During a press conference, Commissioners described the findings as a shocking reflection of the ongoing suffering of civilians.
The current conflict in Sudan being high on our agenda, we co-organised a side event, “A Forgotten People, Still Calling!” with Sudanese partners and international experts to amplify calls for accountability and humanitarian response. During the event, we launched a co-authored report, Stand with Sudan’s Brave: Protecting Human Rights Defenders Who Carry the Torch of Justice, documenting widespread abuses against HRDs and the escalating risks they face.
In light of the ongoing electoral cycles across the continent, we also convened a side event on “The Role of African Human Rights Institutions in Responding to the Intensifying Crackdown on Civil Liberties and Human Rights Defenders Ahead of Elections in East Africa.” The discussion highlighted disturbing regional trends, including the misuse of restrictive laws to silence opposition, internet shutdowns, and the weaponisation of judicial systems to stifle accountability. Panellists emphasised the importance of solidarity among civil society, stronger engagement with African and UN human rights mechanisms, and cross-border collaboration to protect defenders.
On the sidelines of the session, we also hosted a side event, “Spotlight on Egypt and Tunisia: Evaluating their Alignment with African Human Rights Standards and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Recommendations.” Organised as both countries prepared to submit their long-overdue state reports, Tunisia (2006–2024) and Egypt (2019–2024), the side event aimed to encourage reflection and accountability ahead of these submissions.
The discussion brought together civil society stakeholders to assess each country’s progress and persistent gaps in implementing the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Panellists observed that the human rights situation, particularly civic space, requires greater attention from the ACHPR, including revisiting some of its earlier recommendations. Restrictive legislation governing civil society, limited judicial independence, and the breakdown of protection systems for migrants were identified as cross-cutting challenges in both countries.
Speakers urged collective action to ensure that regional human rights instruments, especially the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, are treated as binding by States, ensuring that future reviews demonstrate genuine implementation of ACHPR recommendations. As one panellist aptly noted, “The slow but real emergence of a North African identity that is proudly African is itself an act of resistance. It challenges decades of narratives that have artificially divided ‘North’ and ‘Sub-Saharan’ Africa.” The event concluded with a call for stronger cross-regional solidarity among civil society to defend civic space and human rights across the continent.
We also delivered four statements under two agenda items during the plenary sessions over the course of the nine days, highlighting pressing human rights concerns across the continent:
- Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Africa (Item 5).
- Statement on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (Item 8).
- Statement on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa (Item 8).
- Statement on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (Item No. 8).
Through these interventions, we emphasised the critical importance of safeguarding HRDs, ensuring accountability for violations, and protecting civic space. We urged the Commission and member states to take decisive and coordinated action to uphold human rights, strengthen legal and institutional protections, and support HRDs, especially women and those at risk of reprisals or forced exile, in their vital work advancing justice and equality across the continent.
The 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights concluded with the adoption of three country-specific and four thematic resolutions addressing Africa’s most pressing human rights challenges. Among them was the extension of the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, reaffirming the need for continued monitoring and accountability for grave violations. The Resolution on Justice for Victims of Serious and Massive Human Rights Violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo called for strengthened protection and redress mechanisms for victims of ongoing violence in the eastern provinces. Furthermore, the Resolution on Supporting Citizen Election Observers and Strengthening Electoral Integrity in Africa underscored the importance of safeguarding civic participation and protecting election monitors amid growing threats to democratic processes.
For DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders, the session reaffirmed our shared purpose: to defend, empower, and protect those who speak truth to power. From the conflicts in Sudan and the DRC to the unfolding electoral processes and the shrinking civic space across the continent, our advocacy continues—driven by the resilience and courage of human rights defenders who remind us that, even in the face of repression, hope and solidarity endure.