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Ramadhani v Tanzania (Application No. 010/2015) [2019] AfCHPR 30 (7 August 2019)
- Citation
- [2019] AfCHPR 30
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Panel
- Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Eno R, Kioko VP, Matusse J, Mengue J, Mukamulisa J, Orè P, Tchikaya J
- Case number
- Application No. 010/2015
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Panel
- Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Eno R, Kioko VP, Matusse J, Mengue J, Mukamulisa J, Orè P, Tchikaya J
- Case number
- Application No. 010/2015
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The Court determined that, in the interest of justice, the Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations should be deemed properly filed despite procedural delays. The proceedings in Application 010/2015 are therefore reopened to allow the Applicant an opportunity to reply to the Respondent State's response. This ensures both parties are afforded a fair opportunity to present their arguments on reparations following the Court's earlier finding of violations of the Charter. The Court's orders are made to facilitate a just determination of the reparations due to the Applicant.
Court disposition
proceedings reopened; submissions ordered
Orders
- The proceedings in Application 010/2015 Amir Ramadhani v. United Republic of Tanzania (Reparations) are hereby reopened.
- The Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations is deemed properly filed.
- The Applicant is ordered to submit his reply to the Respondent State's response within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
02
Material facts
Parties
Amir Ramadhani
Applicant Counsel: Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU)United Republic of Tanzania
Respondent Counsel: Dr Clement J. Mashamba, Ms. Sarah Mwaipopo, Mr. Zachariah Elisaria, Ms. Nkasori Sarakikya, Mr. Benedict T. Msuya, Mr. Michael Luena, Mr. Veritas Mlay03
Procedural history
Posture
Reparations Application / Order on Reopening and Submissions
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations should be deemed properly filed.
- 02
Whether the proceedings in Application 010/2015 should be reopened to allow further submissions on reparations.
- 03
Whether the Applicant should be granted an opportunity to reply to the Respondent State's response.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The Applicant filed submissions on reparations following the Court's judgment finding violations of Article 7(1)(c) and Article 1 of the Charter. The Applicant seeks reparations for the failure to provide free legal assistance during judicial proceedings.
- Respondent
- The Respondent State requested and was granted extensions to file its response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations. The Respondent State ultimately filed its response and seeks that it be deemed properly filed in the interest of justice.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Article 7(1)(c)
The right to a fair trial includes the right to legal assistance as provided under Article 7(1)(c) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
- 02
Rule 63 of the Rules of Court
The Court may, in the interest of justice, reopen proceedings and accept late submissions where justified.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The Court determined that, in the interest of justice, the Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations should be deemed properly filed despite procedural delays. The proceedings in Application 010/2015 are therefore reopened to allow the Applicant an opportunity to reply to the Respondent State's response. This ensures both parties are afforded a fair opportunity to present their arguments on reparations following the Court's earlier finding of violations of the Charter. The Court's orders are made to facilitate a just determination of the reparations due to the Applicant.
Obiter and limits
- The Court emphasizes the importance of procedural fairness and the right of both parties to be heard in matters of reparations.
- The reopening of proceedings is justified by the need to ensure justice and proper consideration of all submissions.
Court disposition
proceedings reopened; submissions ordered
- The proceedings in Application 010/2015 Amir Ramadhani v. United Republic of Tanzania (Reparations) are hereby reopened.
- The Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations is deemed properly filed.
- The Applicant is ordered to submit his reply to the Respondent State's response within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
Source and reliance status
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
Judgment
| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | AFRICAN UNION |  | UNION AFRICAINE | |  | UNIÃO AFRICANA | | AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME ET DES PEUPLES P. O Box 6274 Arusha, Tanzania- Telephone: +255 732 979506/9; Fax. +255 732 979503 | | |
THE MATTER OF
AMIR RAMADHANI
V.
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
APPLICATION No. 010/2015
(REPARATIONS)
ORDER
7 AUGUST 2019
The Court composed of: Sylvain ORÉ, President; Ben KIOKO, Vice-President; Rafaâ BEN ACHOUR, Ângelo V. MATUSSE, Suzanne MENGUE, M-Thérèse MUKAMULISA Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA, Chafika BENSAOULA, Blaise TCHIKAYA, Stella I. ANUKAM, Judges; and Robert ENO, Registrar.
Pursuant to Article 22 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”) and Rule 8(2) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter referred to as “the Rules”), Judge Imani D. ABOUD, member of the Court and a national of Tanzania, did not hear the Application.
*In the Matter of:*
Amir RAMADHANI
*represented by:*
Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU)
*Versus*
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
represented by:
1. Dr Clement J. Mashamba - Solicitor General, Office of the Solicitor General; 2. Ms. Sarah MWAIPOPO, Director, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, Attorney General’s Chambers; 3. Mr. Zachariah ELISARIA, Senior State Attorney, Attorney General’s Chambers; 4. Ms. Nkasori SARAKIKYA, Principal State Attorney, Attorney General’s Chambers; 5. Mr. Benedict T. MSUYA, Second Secretary, Legal Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; 6. Mr. Michael LUENA, Principal State Attorney. Attorney General’s Chambers; 7. Mr. Veritas MLAY, State Attorney, Attorney General’s Chambers.
after deliberation,
*issues the following Order:*
1. THE PARTIES 2. The Applicant, Amir Ramadhani, (hereinafter referred to as “the Applicant”) is a national of Tanzania.
3. The Respondent State is the United Republic of Tanzania, which ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Charter”) on 21 October 1986; the Protocol on 7 February 2006; and deposited the Declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol, by which it accepts the jurisdiction of the Court to receive cases directly from individuals and Non-Governmental Organizations, on 29 March 2010. 4. SUBJECT MATTER OF THE APPLICATION 5. An Application for reparations was filed by the Applicant pursuant to the judgment of the Court on the merits delivered on 11 May 2018. In the said judgment, the Court decided that the Respondent State violated Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter, due to its failure to provide the Applicant with free legal assistance during the judicial proceedings and decided that the Respondent State also consequently violated Article 1 of the Charter.
6. Pursuant to Rule 63 of the Rules, the Court ordered the Applicant to file his submission on reparations within thirty (30) days of the judgment of 11 May 2018 and the Respondent State to file submissions in response thereto within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Applicant’s submissions. 7. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT 8. On 14 May 2018, the Registry transmitted a certified true copy of the judgment on the merits to the Parties.
9. The Applicant filed his submission on reparations on 30 July 2018, which was transmitted to the Respondent State on 2 August 2018.
10. After extensions of time granted to the Respondent State on 19 September 2018; 12 December 2018 and 15 February 2019, on 3 May 2019, pleadings were closed and the Parties were duly notified.
11. On 10 July 2019, the Respondent State filed its Response to the Applicant’s submission on reparations. 12. THE COURT: * 1. Orders that the proceedings in *Application 010/2015 Amir Ramadhani v. United Republic of Tanzania (Reparations)* are hereby reopened; and 2. Rules that Respondent State’s Response to the Applicant’s submissions on reparations is deemed as properly filed, in the interest of justice; 3. Orders the Applicant to submit his Reply to the Respondent State’s Response within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
Signed:
Sylvain ORÉ, President;
and Robert ENO, Registrar.
Done at Arusha, this Seventh Day of August in the Year 2019, in English and French, the English text being authoritative.
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