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African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Ramadhani v United Republic of Tanzania (Application No. 010/2015) [2019] AfCHPR 83 (19 August 2019)

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01

Holding and result

The Court determined that, in the interest of justice and given the procedural history—including extensions granted to the Respondent State and the subsequent late filing of its response—the Respondent State's submissions on reparations should be deemed properly filed. The Court found that reopening the pleadings was necessary to ensure both parties have a fair opportunity to present their arguments on reparations, following its earlier judgment that the Respondent State violated the Applicant's right to free legal assistance. The Applicant is therefore ordered to reply to the Respondent State's response within thirty days, ensuring procedural fairness and adherence to the principles of access to justice and fair trial under the African Charter.

Court disposition

Order for reopening of pleadings; Respondent State's response deemed properly filed; Applicant to reply within thirty days.

Orders

  • The proceedings in Application No. 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 as properly filed.
  • The Applicant is ordered to submit his reply to the Respondent State's response within thirty 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 Mlay

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Miscellaneous Application / Order for Reopening of Pleadings

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The Applicant seeks reparations following the Court's judgment that the Respondent State violated his rights under Article 7(1)(c) and Article 1 of the African Charter by failing to provide free legal assistance during judicial proceedings. He filed submissions on reparations as directed by the Court.
Respondent
The Respondent State submitted its response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations after the closure of pleadings, citing extensions previously granted. The Respondent requests that its response be accepted and considered by the Court in the interest of justice.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Article 7(1)(c) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

    The right to a fair trial includes the right to free legal assistance for indigent persons in criminal proceedings.

  2. 02

    Article 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

    States Parties must give effect to the rights and freedoms recognized in the Charter.

  3. 03

    Rule 63 of the Rules of Court

    The Court may, in the interest of justice, reopen pleadings and accept late submissions where warranted.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The Court determined that, in the interest of justice and given the procedural history—including extensions granted to the Respondent State and the subsequent late filing of its response—the Respondent State's submissions on reparations should be deemed properly filed. The Court found that reopening the pleadings was necessary to ensure both parties have a fair opportunity to present their arguments on reparations, following its earlier judgment that the Respondent State violated the Applicant's right to free legal assistance. The Applicant is therefore ordered to reply to the Respondent State's response within thirty days, ensuring procedural fairness and adherence to the principles of access to justice and fair trial under the African Charter.

Obiter and limits

  • The reopening of pleadings is an exceptional measure justified by the need to ensure justice and procedural fairness.
  • The Court emphasizes that the English text of this Order is authoritative.

Court disposition

Order for reopening of pleadings; Respondent State's response deemed properly filed; Applicant to reply within thirty days.

  • The proceedings in Application No. 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 as properly filed.
  • The Applicant is ordered to submit his reply to the Respondent State's response within thirty days of receipt thereof.

Source and reliance status

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

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Source document

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Judgment text

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Source document

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Judgment

[2019] AfCHPR 83

| | 010/2015 | 001174 | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-----------------| | <b>AFRICAN UNION</b> | | UNION AFRICAINE | | الاتحاد الأفريقي | | UNIÃO AFRICANA | | AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS | | | | COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES<br>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 FOR REOPENING OF PLEADINGS

19 AUGUST 2019

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0011? 3

The Court composed of: Sylvain ORE, President; Ben KIOKO, Vice-President; Rafad BEN ACHOUR, Angelo V. IvlA-l-USSE, Suzanne MENGUE, tM-Th6rdse MUKAMULISA Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA, Chafika BENSAOULA, Blaise TCHIKAYA, Stella l. 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 lmani D. ABOUD, member of the Court and a national of Tanzania, did not hear the Application.

ln the Mafter of,

o

Amir RAMADHANI

represented by

Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU)

Versus

o UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

represented by

- Dr Clement J. Mashamba Solicitor General, Office of the Solicitor General; - ll IVs. Sarah IVWAIPOPO, Director, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, Attorney General's Chambers; - Mr. Zachariah ELISARIA, Senior State Attorney, Attorney General's Chambers; llt - Ms. Nkasori SARAKIKYA, Principal State Attorney, Attorney General's Chambers; IV

1,

- Mr. Benedict T. MSUYA, Second Secretary, Legal Officer, Ministry of Foreign $\mathsf{V}.$ Affairs and International Cooperation; - Mr. Michael LUENA, Principal State Attorney. Attorney General's Chambers; vi. - Mr. Veritas MLAY, State Attorney, Attorney General's Chambers. vii.

after deliberation,

issues the following Order:

1. THE PARTIES

- 1. Amir Ramadhani, (hereinafter referred to as "the Applicant") is a national of - 2. 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.

ΊΙ.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE APPLICATION

3. 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.

00tl? r

4. Pursuant to Rule 63 of the Rules, the court ordered the Applicant to file his submission on reparations within thirty (30) days of the judgmen t of 11 May 2o1g and the Respondent State to file submissions in response thereto within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Applicant,s submissions.

III. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT

- on 14 May 2018, the Registry transmitted a certified true copy of the judgment on the merits to the parties 5 - 6. The Applicant fired his submission on reparations on 30 July 201g, which was transmitted to the Respondent State on 2 August 201g. - 7. After extensions of time granted to the Respondent state on 1g september 2o18;12 December2018 and 15 February 2019, on3May2olg,preadings were closed and the parties were duly notified. - <sup>8</sup> on 10 July 2019, the Respondent state fired its Response to the Appricant,s submission on reparations

IV. THE COURT:

o

o

- orders that the proceedings in Apptication No. 010/201s Amir Ramadhani v. united Repubtic of ranzania (Reparations) beand are hereby reopened; - Rules that in the interest of lustice, the Respondent State,s Response to the Appricant's submissions on reparations is deemed as properly filed; and

001170

iii. 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.

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Done at Arusha, this Nineteenth Day of August in the Year 2019, in English and French, the English text being authoritative.

Source wording is retained. Consult the source document for its original formatting and pagination.

Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Article 7(1)(c)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Article 1

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Article 22

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Rules of Court, Rule 8(2)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Rules of Court, Rule 63

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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