Working group
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 69th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 15 November to 5 December 2021;
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Aware that in the exercise of its mandate, the Commission has established various mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa;
Bearing in mind specifically, Articles 21 and 24 of the African Charter, on the right of all peoples to freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources, and to a generally satisfactory environment favourable to their development;
Recalling its previous Resolutions on the need for an improved protection of human rights and the environment, especially through improving the regulatory framework for the activities of the extractive industries, developing effective continental mechanisms for monitoring the human rights impact of the activities of the extractive industries and the development of jurisprudence on holding non-state actors accountable for human rights violations in Africa;
Recalling in particular, Resolution ACHPR/Res. 148(XLVI) 2009, establishing the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa (the Working Group), and Resolution ACHPR/Res. 364(LIX) 2016 on Developing Reporting Guidelines with Respect to the Extractive Industries;
Noting with satisfaction the work accomplished by the Working Group up-to-date and recognizing its importance, as well as the need to allow it to continue carrying out its mandate;
Recalling Resolutions ACHPR/Res.321(LVII)2015, ACHPR/Res. 353 (EXT.OS/XX) 2016, ACHPR/Res.386(LXI)2017, ACHPR/Res.425(LXV)2019 and ACHPR/Res.459(LXVI)2020Â relating to the mandate and composition of the Working Group;
Bearing in mind the Standard Operating Procedures on the Special Mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights(the Standard Operating Procedures on Special Mechanisms) adopted by the Commission at its 27th Extraordinary Session, held from February 19 to March 4, 2020 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Noting in particular the guidelines set out in the Standard Operating Procedures on Special Mechanisms, in particular the role and responsibilities, in general, of mandate-holders, the composition of Special Mechanisms, the appointment of members and the duration of their mandate as well as the code of conduct of mandate holders;
Further noting the decisions taken during the 69th Ordinary Session held from 15 November to 05 December 2021, regarding the allocation of responsibilities relating to Special Mechanisms among the Commissioners;
Decides to appoint and reconstitute the Membership of the Working Group as follow:
1.  Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, Chairperson;
2.  Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Vice-Chairperson;
3.  CommissionerMudford Zachariah Mwandenga , Member; and
4.  Maintain the Membership of Expert Members.
 Done virtually, on 5 December 2021
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 69th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 15 November to 5 December 2021;
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Aware that in the exercise of its mandate, the Commission has established various mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa;
Bearing in mind specifically, Articles 21 and 24 of the African Charter, on the right of all peoples to freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources, and to a generally satisfactory environment favourable to their development;
Recalling its previous Resolutions on the need for an improved protection of human rights and the environment, especially through improving the regulatory framework for the activities of the extractive industries, developing effective continental mechanisms for monitoring the human rights impact of the activities of the extractive industries and the development of jurisprudence on holding non-state actors accountable for human rights violations in Africa;
Recalling in particular, Resolution ACHPR/Res. 148(XLVI) 2009, establishing the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa (the Working Group), and Resolution ACHPR/Res. 364(LIX) 2016 on Developing Reporting Guidelines with Respect to the Extractive Industries;
Noting with satisfaction the work accomplished by the Working Group up-to-date and recognizing its importance, as well as the need to allow it to continue carrying out its mandate;
Recalling Resolutions ACHPR/Res.321(LVII)2015, ACHPR/Res. 353 (EXT.OS/XX) 2016, ACHPR/Res.386(LXI)2017, ACHPR/Res.425(LXV)2019 and ACHPR/Res.459(LXVI)2020Â relating to the mandate and composition of the Working Group;
Bearing in mind the Standard Operating Procedures on the Special Mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights(the Standard Operating Procedures on Special Mechanisms) adopted by the Commission at its 27th Extraordinary Session, held from February 19 to March 4, 2020 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Noting in particular the guidelines set out in the Standard Operating Procedures on Special Mechanisms, in particular the role and responsibilities, in general, of mandate-holders, the composition of Special Mechanisms, the appointment of members and the duration of their mandate as well as the code of conduct of mandate holders;
Further noting the decisions taken during the 69th Ordinary Session held from 15 November to 05 December 2021, regarding the allocation of responsibilities relating to Special Mechanisms among the Commissioners;
Decides to appoint and reconstitute the Membership of the Working Group as follow:
1.  Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, Chairperson;
2.  Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Vice-Chairperson;
3.  CommissionerMudford Zachariah Mwandenga , Member; and
4.  Maintain the Membership of Expert Members.
 Done virtually, on 5 December 2021
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 69th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 15 November to 5 December 2021;
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Recalling also the decision of the Commission at its 37th Ordinary Session to appoint two Commissioners to work with the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa to prepare a concept paper on the issue of the death penalty in Africa;
Recalling further its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.42 (XXVI) 99 and ACHPR/Res.136 (XXXXIIII) 08 calling on States Parties to observe a moratorium on the death penalty;
Bearing in mind United Nations General Assembly Resolution 71/187, adopted in December 2016, calling upon all States that still maintain the death penalty to observe, inter alia, a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty;
Recalling its ACHPR Resolution ACHPR/Res.79 (XXXVIII) 05 on the Composition and Operationalization of the Working Group on the Death Penalty (Working Group) aiming in particular at broadening the composition of the Working Group and its mandate;
Recalling also its Resolutions ACHPR /Res.113 (XXXXII) 07, ACHPR /Res.152 (XLVI) 09, ACHPR /Res.201 (L) 11, ACHPR /Res.251 (LIV) 2013, ACHPR /Res.317 (LVII) 15, ACHPR /Res.384 (LXI) 2017 and ACHPR /Res. 448 (LXVI) 2020 on the renewal of the mandate of the Working Group;
Recalling further its Resolution ACHPR /Res.425 (LXV) 2019 renewing the mandate of all its Special Mechanisms, the Working Group included, for a period of six (6) months;
Emphasising its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.227 (LII) 12 and ACHPR/Res.408 (LXII) 2018 extending the mandate of the Working Group to issues relating to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings and to issues concerning enforced disappearances respectively;
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res. 480 (LXVIII) 2021 on the redistribution of the mandates of country Rapporteurs and Special Mechanisms among the Commissioners and which appointed Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel as Chairperson of the Working Group;
Noting with satisfaction the work accomplished by the Working Group, under the leadership of Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, since her appointment on 8 May 2021;
Reaffirming the commitment of the Commission to promote the right to life and to pursue its advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty and the prohibition of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances in Africa;
Recognising the importance of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa and the need to enable it to continue to carry out its mandate and deal with the major issues emanating therefrom;
Keeping in mind the Rules governing the creation and functioning of the Commission’s Special Mechanisms (the Rules on the creation and functioning of the Special Mechanisms of the Commission), (the Rules on the Special Mechanisms) adopted by the Commission at its 27th Extraordinary Session held from 19 February to 4 March 2020 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Noting in particular the guidelines set out in the Rules on Special Mechanisms, including the general role and responsibilities of the mandate-holders, the composition of the special mechanisms, the appointment of members and the duration of their mandates, and the code of conduct for mandate-holders;
Further noting the decision taken during the 69th Ordinary Session held from 15 November to 5 December 2021, relative to the distribution of responsibilities of the Special Mechanisms among the Commissioners;
Decides to appoint and reconstitute the Membership of the Working Group as follows:
1.  Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Chairperson;
2.  Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, Vice-Chairperson; and
3.  Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Member;
Maintain the same composition of expert members.Â
 Done virtually, on 5 December 2021
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 69th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 15 November to 5 December 2021;
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.77 (XXXVII) 05 on the establishment of a Working Group on Specific Issues Related to the Work of the Commission (Working Group) adopted at its 37th Ordinary Session;
Mindful of its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.80(XXXVIII)05, ACHPR/Res.127(XXXXII)07, ACHPR/Res.150 (XLVI)09, ACHPR/Res.280 (LV) 2014, and ACHPR/Res.311 (LVII) 2015 on the Renewal of the Mandate and Composition of the Working group;
Recalling its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.233 (EXT.OS/XIII) 13 and ACHPR/Res. 328 (EXT.OS/XIX) 2016 reconstituting the Working Group and modifying its mandate and composition;
Further recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res. 389(LXI) 2017 and ACHPR/Res. 463 (LXVI) 2020 on the Appointment of the Chairperson, Renewal of the Mandate and Reconstitution of the Working Group;
Bearing in mind the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relating to its Special Mechanisms adopted during its 27th Extra-Ordinary Session held from 19 February to 4 March 2020, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Noting in particular, guidance provided by the SOPS on the working modalities of Special Mechanisms, general roles and responsibilities of mandate holders, the composition, appointment, tenure and conduct of mandate holders;
Noting the need to allow the Working Group to continue to carry out its mandate;
Decides to appoint and reconstitute the Membership of the Working Group as follows:
 1. Commissionner Marie Louise Abomo, Chairperson;
2. Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Vice Chairperson;
3. Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, Member; and
4. Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel, Member.
Done virtually, on 5 December 2021