From Senghor to Diomaye Faye: Dakar celebrates 40 years of continental commitment to human rights

This is a very symbolic return to the sources of continental law. Under the high patronage of His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, the 89th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) will open this Monday, October 12, 2026, at 10 a.m., at the King Fahd Palace in Dakar.

Organised this year in Dakar, at the official invitation of the Senegalese government, instead of Banjul, this major meeting has a historical dimension.

It marks the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, a foundational text initiated at the time by Presidents Léopold Sédar Senghor and Dawda Jawara, as well as by great jurists like Kéba Mbaye.

A major international event, the ceremony is attended by more than 1,400 delegates from the 54 States Parties to the Charter. A key component of this session is the special presentation of progress reports on the human rights situation in four member countries.

Co-organized by the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad and the ACHPR, this anniversary offers Senegal the opportunity to reaffirm its leadership and its unwavering commitment to the values of justice, dignity and respect for fundamental rights on the African continent.

Introduction to the ACHPR: The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is one of the organs of the African Union (AU). It is established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the founding treaty of the African human rights system. It promotes and protects human and peoples' rights across the continent.

Composition of the ACHPR: The ACHPR is composed of 11 commissioners, elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. They serve in their individual capacity.

Mandate of the ACHPR: The mandate of the ACHPR, as defined in Article 45 of the African Charter, includes in particular:

1. to promote and protect human and peoples' rights in Africa;
2. interpret the provisions of the African Charter.

Session information: The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) meets in ordinary sessions and may also convene extraordinary sessions as needed. The 89th ordinary session will include a private session, held virtually and closed to the public, from 21 September to 1 October 2026, followed by a public in-person session from 12 to 21 October 2026 at the King Fahd Palace Hotel in Dakar, Senegal.