By: Abdoulie John
As the 87th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) drew to a close on Wednesday in Banjul, Gambia’s Solicitor General Hussein Thomasi urged fellow African states to fulfill their periodic reporting obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, Thomasi stressed the importance of timely submissions.
“We also commend those state parties that have fulfilled their reporting obligations by submitting and presenting their periodic reports before the commission,” he said.
Under the African Charter, periodic reporting is a binding obligation for state parties, not an optional exercise. The mechanism allows governments to demonstrate their commitment to human rights transparency and accountability. The Charter also permits civil society organizations to submit complementary “shadow reports” to provide alternative perspectives.
However, Gambia itself is currently lagging in its obligations. Commissioner Janet Sallah-Njie, the ACHPR’s Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, revealed during the preceding NGOs Forum that the country has two overdue periodic reports.
The disclosure has highlighted a gap between Gambia’s public calls for compliance and its own record. While Thomasi acknowledged the value of these reporting engagements for transparency, he did not directly address the country’s missed deadlines during his statement.
This comes amid broader discussions on strengthening human rights mechanisms across the continent. Many observers view consistent and timely reporting as a cornerstone of the African human rights system, enabling the Commission to monitor progress and identify areas needing intervention.
Gambia, a signatory to the African Charter, has in the past engaged with the ACHPR process, but the two outstanding reports underscore challenges in meeting regular reporting cycles. The Commission continues to encourage all member states to prioritize these obligations to uphold the integrity of the regional human rights framework.
