Hassani v Tanzania (Application no. 029/2015) [2019] AfCHPR 14; (26 September 2019)

 

IN THE MATTER OF

YUSUPH HASSANI

 

V.

 

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

 

Application no. 029/2015

ORDER ON RE-OPENING OF PLEADINGS

26 SEPTEMBER 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

 

Yusuph HASSANI

self-represented,

versus

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA,

represented by:

1. Dr Clement J MASHAMBA, Solicitor General, Office of the Solicitor General

2. Ms. Sarah MWAIPOPO, Acting Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Division of Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, Attorney General’s Chambers

3. Ambassador Baraka LUVANDA, Head of Legal Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation

4. Ms. Nkasori SARAKIKYA, Assistant Director, Human Rights, Principal State Attorney, Attorney General’s Chambers

5. Mr. Mark MULWAMBO, Principal State Attorney, Attorney General’s Chambers

6. Ms Sylvia MATIKU, Principal State Attorney, Attorney General’s Chambers

7. Mr. Elisha SUKA, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation.

 

1. THE PARTIES

1. The Applicant, Mr. Yusuph Hassani is a national of the United Republic of Tanzania. He was convicted of the offence of armed robbery on 31 August 2006 and sentenced to thirty (30) years imprisonment which he is currently serving.
2. The Respondent State, the United Republic of Tanzania, became a party to, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Charter”) on 21 October 1986 and to 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”) on 10 February 2006. On 29 March 2010, the Respondent State deposited the Declaration as prescribed under Article 34(6) of the Protocol.

 

2. SUBJECT MATTER OF THE APPLICATION

3. The Application, filed on 23 November 2015, is based on the Respondent State’s alleged violations of the Applicant’s right be heard in the course of his trial and appeals on the charge of armed robbery.

 

3. SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT

4. The Parties exchanged pleadings on the merits. The Applicant filed his submissions on reparations. On 8 June 2019 the Parties were notified of the close of pleadings.

5. On 26 August 2019 the Respondent State filed a request for extension of time to file its response to the Applicant’s submissions on reparations on the basis that the delay in responding was due to the reforms in the State Law Offices. The Respondent State filed the response to the submissions together with the request for extension of time.

6. On 29 August 2019 the Respondent State’s request was sent to the Applicant for his observations to be submitted within fifteen (15) days.

 

4. THE COURT:

1. Orders that, in the interests of justice, proceedings in Application No. 029/2015 Yusuph Hassani v United Republic of Tanzania be and are hereby re-opened
2. The Respondent State’s Response to the Applicant’s submissions on reparations is deemed as duly filed and to be served on the Applicant.
3. The Applicant’s Reply, if any, should be filed within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Respondent State’s Response.

 

Signed:

Sylvain ORÉ, President

and

Robert ENO, Registrar.

 

Done at Arusha, this Twenty Sixth Day of September in the Year 2019.