Dakar (Senegal), 10 October 2026 (SPS) – The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is participating in the Third Forum of States Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which opened today, Saturday, in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, under the auspices of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The forum coincides with the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights by the Organisation of African Unity, the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the African Youth Charter.
The opening ceremony featured the Senegalese national anthem, as Senegal is hosting the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Addresses were subsequently delivered by the Commission’s chairperson, a representative of the host country, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
The forum provides an opportunity to assess the human rights situation across Africa, strengthen cooperation between states parties, the African Commission and other stakeholders, and review policies and strategies aimed at protecting and promoting human rights across the continent.
It also serves as a platform for dialogue and the exchange of views between states parties and the African Commission to enhance coordination and cooperation on human rights issues.
The forum is scheduled to run for two days, ahead of the official opening of the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Sahrawi Republic is represented at the forum and the subsequent session of the African Commission by Laroussi Abdallah, Director of the Human Rights Department at the Sahrawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A sizeable delegation of Sahrawi human rights organisations is also participating in the session.
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