African Court Re-Elects Justice Ore As President

Justice Ore President and Justice Kioko, Vice President

Arusha, Tanzania, - Justice Sylvain Oré from Côte d’Ivoire has been re-elected as President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for another two year term.

Justice Ben Kioko from Kenya was also re-elected as the Vice President at a closed-door elections held at the start of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Continental Court at Arusha, Tanzania.

Justice Ore thanked the Judges for the confidence demonstrated in their leadership and pledged renewed commitment to ensure that the African 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 African Court by re-electing us overwhelmingly for another term of two years. We assure you of our full commitment to live to expectations,” Justice Ore stated.

Justice 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.

Justice Ben Kioko was elected Judge of the African Court in July 2012 for a six-year term.

The African Court’s 50th Ordinary Session started with the swearing-in of three Judges elected during the 31st African Union Heads of State Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

They are: Justice Imani Aboud from Tanzania; Justice Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam from Nigeria; and Justice Blaise Tchikaye from Congo.

The swearing-in ceremony was graced by the Vice President of Tanzania Mrs Samia Hassan Suluhu.

The Judges, among others, will examine over ten applications during the four-week session to stretch up to September 21. Four Judgments are scheduled during the period.

The Court is composed of eleven 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.

As at 1 July 2018, the Court had received 180 applications and has finalized 45.