These biographies have been compiled by PICT with material available in the public domain in order to assist in researching the ACHPR, and the international judiciary. If you have further information, or think the information posted here needs to be corrected, please do not hesitate to contact us.
DR. FATSAH OUGUERGOUZ (ALGERIA)
Position at Time of Election: Secretary of the International Court of Justice.
Other Positions Held:
Member, Board of Directors of the Institute for Human Rights & Development (Gambia)
Associate Editor, African Yearbook of International Law
Legal Officer, International Court of Justice
Human Rights Officer, Rwanda
Associate Legal Officer, U.N. Institute of African Studies and Center for the Study of Human Rights
Associate Legal Officer, United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, New York
Professor of International Law, University of Geneva Faculty of Law
International Editorial Advisory Board Member, African Human Rights Law Journal
Publications:
(with Djacoba Liva Tehindrazanarivelo) The question of secession in Africa, in MARCELO G. KOHEN ED., SECESSION: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).
L'application de la Charte africaine des droits de l'Homme et des peuples par les autorités nationales en Afrique occidentale, in JEAN-FRANCOIS FLAUSS AND ELISABETH LAMBERT-ABDELGAWAD, EDS., L'APPLICATION NATIONALE DE LA CHARTE AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES (2004).
THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS: A COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA FOR HUMAN DIGNITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA (2003).
La Palestine et les Conventions de Genève du 12 aout 1949 ou l'histoire d'une adhesion avortée, in LAURENCE BOISSON DE CHAZOURNES AND VERA GOWLLAND-DEBBAS EDS., ORDRE JURIDIQUE INTERNATIONAL, UN SYSTÈME EN QUÊTE D'ÉQUITÉ ET D'UNIVERSALITÉ: LIBER AMICORUM GEORGE ABI-SAAB (2001).
LA CHARTE AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES: UNE APPROCHE JURIDIQUE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ENTRE TRADITION ET MODERNITÉ (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1993).
The Establishment of an African court of Human and Peoples' Rights: A Judicial Premiere for the African Union, 11 AFRICAN YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 79 (2003).
Les mécanismes continentaux de protection de la personne humaine en afrique - Gros plan sur la Commission africaine des droits de l'homme et des peoples, 10 U.N. OBSERVER (2001).
(with Mohammed Bedjaoui) Le forum prorogatum devant la Cour internationale de Justice: les ressources d'une institution ou la face cachée du consensualisme, 5 AFRICAN YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 91 (1997).
La tragédie rwandaise du printemps 1994: quelques considérations sur les premières réactions de l'Organisation des Nations Unies, 100 (1) REVUE GÉNÉRALE DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC 149 (1996).
L'absence de clause de derogation dans certains traités relatifs aux droits de l'homme: Les responses du droit international general, 98 REVUE GÉNÉRALE DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC 287 (1994).
The Bamako Convention on Hazardous Waste: A new step in the development of the African international environmental law, 1 AFRICAN YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 195 (1993).
The International Law of Human Rights in Africa: Basic documents and annotated bibliography, compiled by M. Hamelengwa and others, 1 AFRICAN YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 221 (1993) (Book review).
JEAN EMILE SOMDA (BURKINA FASO)
Position at Time of Election: Member of the Constitutional Council, the constitutional court of Burkina Faso.
Other Positions Held:
Legal adviser to the Minister of Justice
Advisor to the Constitutional Council
Minister for Public Service and Institutional Development
Judge, Constitutional Court
President, Tribunal of Kaya
President of the Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Ouaga
Member, Independent Commission of Inquiry into the case of Norbert Zongo
GERARD NIYUNGEKO (BURUNDI)
Position at Time of Election: Professor of Law at the University of Burundi at Bujumbura. There, he holds the UNESCO Chair in Education for Peace and conflicts resolution. Dr. Niyungeko is also a consultant to the Political Affairs Commission of the African Union.
Other Positions Held:
Member, Editorial Committee of the Research Group on the Democratic, Economic and Social Development of Africa (current)
Visiting Professor in International Law, Free University of Brussels (2002-2003)
International expert, United Nations Program for development in the judicial domain and in the domain of human rights (2002)
Counsel for Niger, Boundary Dispute between Niger and Benin, International Court of Justice (2002)
Member, Implementation Monitoring Committee for the Arusha Accord for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi (2000)
Member, Association for the Development of Education in Africa Working Group on Higher Education (1999)
Member, Burundi delegation to the diplomatic conference of the United Nations on the creation of the International Criminal Court (1998)
Vice Rector, University of Burundi (1997-2000)
President, Constitutional Court of Burundi (1992-1996)
Legal representative, Great Lakes University
Member, Committee forming the Tribunal of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States (1991-1995)
President, Constitutional Commission of Burundi (1991-1992)
Counsel for Burundi, LAFICO v. Holding Arabe Burundo Libyen (HALB), International Arbitral Tribunal, Brussels (1990-1991)
Counsel for Burundi, Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo v. Burundi), International Court of Justice (1999-2000)
Publications:
LA PREUVE DEVANT LES JURIDICTIONS INTERNATIONALES (Brussels: Bruylant, Forthcoming).
LES DROITS DE L'HOMME, COURS DESTINÉ AUX FORMATEURS (Bujumbura, 1994).
L'impact du programme d'adjustement structurel sur le respect des droits économiques et sociaux au Burundi, 32 REVUE BELGE 8 (1999).
La mise en oeuvre du droit international humanitaire et le principe de la souveraineté des États, INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF THE RED CROSS 113 (1991).
Dr. Niyungeko is also the author of several training manuals on human rights.
SOPHIA A.B. AKUFFO (GHANA)
Position at Time of Election: Judge of the Supreme Court of Ghana
Other Positions Held:
Member, Governing Committee of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute
Chairperson, Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force
Position at Time of Election: Magistrate in the Ministry of Justice
Other Positions Held:
Technical Counsel, Ministry of Justice
Member, Malian Delegation to the 2003 Conference of Governmental Structures responsible for Human Rights in the French-speaking zone.
JEAN MUTSINZI (RWANDA)
Position at Time of Election: Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice since 2003
Other Positions Held:
Member, Council of the Wise, Rwanda Association of Jurists
Senior Lecturer in Private International Law, Kigali Independent University
Executive Secretary, Legal and Constitutional Commission of the Rwanda Republic (2000-2003)
Judge, COMESA Court of Justice (2001)
President, Superior Council of the Judiciary (1995-1999)
President, Supreme Court of Justice (1995-1999)
Secretary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (1989-1994)
Chief Legal Adviser, Organization of African Unity (1982-1995)
Private Practitioner, Zaire (1966-1982)
Lecturer in Public and Private International Law, International Organizations and Maritime and Air Law at the University of Zaire, Faculty of Social, Political and Economic Sciences (1966-1982)
Director of Research, University of Brussels (1964-1966)
EL HADJI GUISSE (SENEGAL)
Position at Time of Election: Special Rapporteur on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights and the promotion of the right to drinking water supply and sanitation for the United Nations Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
Other Positions Held:
Expert, Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
Chairperson and Rapporteur, Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations, United Nations Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Member, Working Group on Indigenous Populations, United Nations Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Chairman, Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
President of the Human Sciences Commissions, UNESCO National Commission
President of the Court of Appeal of Dakar (1998)
Special Rapporteur, Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
President, National Press Card Commission
Publications:
Right to Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, 34 (6) ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND LAW 287 (2004).
United Nations Reports:
Draft Guidelines For the Realization of the Right to Drinking Water And Sanitation, U.N. ESCOR, Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/25 (2005).
Relationship between the Enjoyment of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Promotion of the Realization of the Right to Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, Final Report of the Special Rapporteur, Geneva,U.N. ESCOR U.N.Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/20 (2004).
Working Paper for the United Nations Social Forum, The Effect of Debt on Human Rights, United Nations Document E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/27 (2004).
Review of developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous people: Principal theme: "Indigenous peoples and globalization, Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Working Group on Indigenous Populations, 21st session, U.N.Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/2003/14 (5) (2003).
Working Paper on the Promotion of the Realization of the Right of Everyone to Access Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Services, U.N. ESCOR, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/7 (1998).
The Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Final Report on the Question of the Impunity of Perpetrators of Human Rights Violations, U.N. Comm. Hum. Rts., 49th Sess., U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/8 (1997).
BERNARD NGOEPE (SOUTH AFRICA)
Position at Time of Election: President of the Pretoria High Court
Other Positions Held:
Chancellor, University of South Africa
Chairperson, Magistrates' Commission
Member, United Nations Environment Programme Global Alliance of Judges On Environmental Law and participant in the United Nations Environment Programme Global Judges Programme initiatives
Member, Court of Military Appeals
Chairperson, Military Legal Services Division Review Council
Military Appeals. Judge President, Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court of South Africa
Acting Judge, Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein
Member, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Amnesty Committee
Acting Judge, Constitutional Court of South Africa (1995)
Judge, Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court of South Africa
Member, Technical Committee on Constitutional Issues (the Committee drafted the Constitution)
Position at Time of Election: Member of the Supreme Court of Uganda since 1997. He is also the chancellor of both Kampala International University and Kabale University.
Other Positions Held:
Member of the Uganda Human Rights Initiative
Chairman, The Committee on Judges' Terms And Conditions Of Service
Legal Advisor to the President of Uganda on Human Rights and International Affairs
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Kabala University Chairman, Legal and Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly
Chair, International Commission of Jurists Advisory Panel of Eminent Commonwealth Judicial Experts
Expert, Organization of African Unity and United Nations High Commission For Refugees Meeting of Government and Non-Government Experts on the 30th Anniversary of the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, 27-29 March 2000
Member, Uganda National Legislature
Minister of Commerce
Minister of Justice
Attorney General
Publications:
REFLECTIONS OF A JUDGE ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN UGANDA, 2(1) THE UGANDAN LIVING LAW JOURNAL (2004) (published by the Uganda Law Reform Commission).
CANON JOHN BIKANGAGA HIS LIFE AND SERVICE (Kampala: Centenary Pub. House, 2003).
CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF UGANDA: FROM 1984 TO THE PRESENT (Kampala: Centenary Pub. House, 2002).
REFLECTIONS ON UGANDA MUSLIM LEADERSHIP CRISIS (Michigan State University Press, 1998).
REFLECTIONS ON THE MUSLIM LEADERSHIP QUESTION IN UGANDA (Kampala, Fountain Publishers 1998).
RETURNEES AND REFUGEES:
EEC MISSION TO UGANDA (with Barbara Harrell-Bond) (Oxford: Refugee Studies Programme, 1986).
URBAN LEGAL PROBLEMS IN EASTERN AFRICA (edited with Patrick McAuslan) (Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies 1978).
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND GOVERNMENT IN UGANDA: THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM IN UGANDA INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS, THE CITIZEN AND THE STATE, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMONWEALTH (Nairobi: East African Literature Bureau, 1975).
URBAN PLANNING LAW IN EAST AFRICA: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UGANDA, (PROGRESS IN PLANNING) (Pergamon Press, 1973).
