By Alieu Ceesay
In a powerful address at the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), which is currently taking place in Banjul, Gambia, Chairperson of the Banjul-based Commission Remy Ngoy Lumbu urged political leaders and stakeholders to strengthen protections for human rights under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and related instruments. The historic session in a city renowned for its human rights advocacy spotlighted pressing challenges facing the continent, from political instability to systemic discrimination.
Chairperson Lumbu expressed alarm over the slow progress in criminalizing female genital mutilation (FGM), calling on authorities to enact robust laws to safeguard women’s rights. He highlighted the growing scourge of unconstitutional government changes, internal conflicts, and constitutional reviews driven by personal agendas rather than public interest. Lumbu also condemned the rise in internet outages and media closures during political transitions, which he said undermine freedoms of expression and information.
The Chairperson drew attention to the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where clashes between M23 rebels, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and government forces have fueled a humanitarian crisis.
Referencing ACHPR Resolution 627, he declared, “Now is the time to end these massacres, which have plagued the region for over 30 years. We must secure the Great Lakes region to prevent another genocide.”
Lumbu also addressed the tragic loss of migrants in the Mediterranean and along African coastlines, urging nations to adopt development strategies that improve living conditions and reduce the need for perilous migration. The Commission voiced deep concern over pervasive sexual violence, systemic discrimination against women, and their underrepresentation in leadership roles.
Freedom of expression and association remain under threat in countries like Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Mali, where human rights defenders, journalists, and media professionals face relentless harassment. The ACHPR also condemned the use of torture in prisons, dire detention conditions, and systemic issues like food insecurity, poverty, and unemployment, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. Environmental degradation, resource exploitation, and the displacement of Indigenous peoples from ancestral lands were flagged as further violations.
On a positive note, the Commission celebrated the African Union’s adoption of a convention to eliminate discrimination against women, with Djibouti becoming the first nation to sign it on April 9, 2025. The AU’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Reparations was also hailed as a step toward justice. Lumbu emphasized that reparations are not just historical acknowledgment but a fundamental right for those impacted by slavery, colonization, and systemic discrimination. “Millions of Africa’s descendants live with the haunting memories of these injustices, which affect them economically, socially, and culturally,” he said. “Addressing these wrongs is essential for sustainable development.”
The session featured calls for unity, with Wilson De Almeida Adão, Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, urging collaborative efforts to protect children’s rights. Immaculada Roca Cortes, the EU Ambassador to The Gambia, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting African human rights initiatives.
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information deputized for Gambia’s Justice Minister, Dawda Jallow, and underscored the centrality of human rights in governance.
As the session concluded, the ACHPR’s message was clear: African nations must act decisively to uphold human rights. With challenges ranging from armed conflicts to judicial deficiencies, the Commission’s call for collective action resonates as a critical step toward a more just and equitable continent.
