International Commissions of Inquiry, Fact-finding Missions: Africa

Human  Rights Council resolution 33/24 of 30 Sep. 2016, renewed by resolutions 36/19 of 29 Sep. 2017, 39/14 of 28 Sep. 2018, 42/26 of 27 Sep. 2019, 45/19 of 6 Oct. 2020

Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi for a further period of one year in order for it to continue its investigations, including with regard to the economic underpinnings of the State;
(a) To conduct a thorough investigation into human rights violations and abuses in  Burundi  since  April  2015,  including on their  extent  and  whether  they  may  constitute international crimes, with a view to contributing to the fight against impunity;
(b) To  identify  alleged  perpetrators  of  human  rights  violations  and  abuses  in Burundi with a view to ensuring full accountability;
(c) To formulate recommendations on steps to be taken with a view to guaranteeing that the  authors of these violations and abuses, regardless of their affiliation, are held accountable for their acts;
(d) To engage with the Burundian authorities and all other stakeholders, in particular United Nations agencies, civil society, refugees, the field presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in Burundi, authorities of the African Union, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in order to provide the support and expertise or the immediate improvement of the situation of human rights and the fight  against impunity;
(e) To present an oral briefing to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth  sessions, and a final report during an interactive dialogue at its thirty-sixth session;
(f) To present its report to the General Assembly and other relevant international bodies

Mr. Doudou Diène (Senegal), President, Ms. Lucy Asuagbor (Camerron), Ms. Francoise Hampson (UK)

Former commissioners:
Mr. Fatsah Ouguergouz, President (Algeria)
Ms. Reine Alapini Gansu (Benin)

Human  Rights Council resolution S-24/1 of 17 Dec. 2015

Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently organize and dispatch on the most expeditious basis possible a mission by independent existing experts:
To undertake swiftly an investigation into violations and abuses of human rights with a view to preventing further deterioration of the human rights situation; To make recommendations on the improvement of the human rights situation and on technical assistance to support reconciliation and the implementation of the Arusha Agreement; To engage with the Burundian authorities and all other relevant stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, civil society, refugees, the field presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in Burundi, authorities of the African Union, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in particular with a view to help the State to fulfil its human rights obligations, to ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses, including by identifying alleged perpetrators, to adopt appropriate transitional justice measures and to maintain the spirit of the Arusha Agreement; To ensure the complementarity and coordination of this effort with other efforts of the United Nations, the African Union and other appropriate regional and international entities, drawing on the expertise of the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to the extent practicable; To have a representative of the experts issue an oral update and participate in an enhanced interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in Burundi at the thirty-first session of the Human Rights Council, and to issue a final report and participate in an enhanced interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in Burundi at the thirty-third session

Oral update by Christof Heyns (22 March 2016) (MS Word file, English, Français)

Report A/HRC/33/37 (20 July 2016)

Security Council resolution 1012 (1995) of 28 Aug. 1995

The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to establish, as a matter of urgency, an international commission of inquiry, with the following mandate: (a) to establish the facts relating to the assassination of the President of Burundi on 21 October 1993, the massacres and other related serious acts of violence which followed; (b) to recommend measures of a legal, political or administrative nature, as appropriate, after consultation with the Government of Burundi, and measures with regard to the bringing to justice of persons responsible for those acts, to prevent any repetition of deeds similar to those investigated by the commission and, in general, to eradicate impunity and promote national reconciliation in Burundi

Reports S/1996/8 of 5 Jan. 1996, S/1996/682 of 22 Aug. 1996;

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Secretary-General at the request of the Government of Burundi.

See also: Security Council S/26757  of 16 Nov. 1993

Human Rights Council resolution S-23/1 of 1 April 2015 (in A/70/53, pp. 149-151)

Security Council resolution 2127 (2013) of 5 Dec. 2013 

International Commission of Inquiry to investigate events in the Central African Republic since 1 January 2013

Press-release SG/A/1451-AFR/2799 of 22 Jan. 2014

Bernard A. MUNA, Chaiperson (Camerron),  Ms Fatimata M’BAYE (Mauritania) and Mr. Philip ALSTON (USA)

Mr.Jorge Castañeda, appointed initially as one of the commissioners, resigned for personal reasons. On 18 August 2014 the Secretary-General appointed Philip Alston (Australi(a) as a member of the Commission

Reports S/2014/373 of 26 June 2014, S/2014/928 of 22 Dec. 2014;

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Human Rights Council resolution 23/18 of 13 June 2013 (in A/68/53, pp. 168-170)

OHCHR Fact-finding mission to  Central African Republic

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Statement by N. Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights of 20 Jan. 2014

Report A/HRC/24/59 of 12 Sep. 2013

Human Rights Council resolution 16/25 of 25 Mar. 2011 (in A/66/53, pp. 9-11)

Report A/HRC/17/48 of 1 July 2011

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Security Council S/PRST/2004/17 of 25 May 2004

Report not published as an official document;

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Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, upon request of the UN Secretary-General

Report S/2004/384 of 13 May 2004;

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High Commissioner for Human Rights, upon request of the UN Secretary-General

Secretary-General upon the request of the Government of Côte d'Ivoire

Human Right Council resolution 38/20 of 6 July 2018

The Human Rights Council requests the High Commissioner to dispatch a team of two international human rights experts, with adequate support, to be charged with monitoring, evaluating, providing support and reporting on the implementation by the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the recommendations made by the previous team of international experts in its report, in particular with regard to the fight against impunity and the measures to promote reconciliation, and to make recommendations in this regard, as appropriate

Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye (Senegal), Ms. Sheila B. Keetharuth (Mauritius)

Oral presentation made at Human Rights Council, 40th session, 19 March 2019 (French only)

Human Right Council resolution 35/33 of 23 June 2017

The Human Rights Council requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to dispatch a team of international experts, including experts from the region, to collect and preserve information, to determine the facts and circumstances in accordance with international standards and practice, and while ensuring the protection of all persons who will cooperate with the team, in cooperation with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including by facilitating visits and access to the country, sites and persons, concerning alleged human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law in the Kasai regions, and to forward to the judicial authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo the conclusions of this investigation in order to establish the truth and to ensure that the perpetrators of deplorable crimes are all accountable to the judicial authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;

Also requests the High Commissioner to present an oral update, and to invite the team to participate in an enhanced interactive dialogue at its thirty-seventh session, and requests the High Commissioner to present a comprehensive report with the team’s findings, and to invite the team to participate in an interactive dialogue at its thirty-eighth session.

Mr Bacre Waly Ndiaye (Senegal), Ms Sheila B. Keetharuth (Mauritius)

Report A/HRC/38/31 (3 July 2018)
Report A/HRC/38/CRP.1 (Français) (29 June 2018)

UN Secretary-General S/2006/390 of 13 June 2006, para. 54. 

Established after consultations among relevant UN agencies and partners and with the Congolese Government. The Secretary-General requested the OHCHR to lead the exercise, in cooperation with the Dept. of Peacekeeping Operations and UND

UN Secretary-General S/1997/617 of 6 Aug. 1997

Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1997/58 of 15 Apr. 1997 (in E/CN.4/1997/150, pp. 194-198); 2000/15 of 18 Apr. 2000 (in E/2000/23, pp.99-105); 2001/19 of 20 Apr. 2001 (in E/2001/23, pp. 114-121); 2002/14 of 19 Apr. 2002 (in E/2002/23, pp. 71-78)

Commission on Human Rights decides to request the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Zaire and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to carry out a joint mission to investigate allegations of massacres and other issues affecting human rights which arise from the situation prevailing in eastern Zaire since September 1996 (resolution 1997/58)

Commission on Human Rights requests the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to carry out, as soon as security considerations permit and, where appropriate, in cooperation with the National Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) between 1996 and 1997, a joint mission to investigate all massacres carried out on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including those in the province of South Kivu, and other atrocities as referred to in the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo [E/CN.4/1999/42], with a view to bringing to justice those responsible (resolutions 2000/15, 2001/19, 2002/14)

Mr. Roberto GARRETON (Chile), Mr. Bacre Waly NDIAYE (Senegal), Mr. Jonas FOLI (Ghana)

Report E/CN.4/1998/64 of 23 Jan. 1998,

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Human Rights Council decision S-4/101 of 13 Dec. 2006 (in A/62/53, p. 87)

Human Rights Council decides to dispatch to dispatch a High-Level Mission to assess the human rights situation in Darfur and the needs of the Sudan

Ms Jody WILLIAMS, Head of Mission (USA), Mr. Bertrand RAMCHARAN (Guyana), Mr. Mart NUTT (Estonia), Mr. Makarim WIBISONO (Indonesia), Mr. Patrice TONDA (Gabon) and Ms Sima SAMAR (Afghanistan)

On 14 February 2007, Mr. Makarim Wibisono discontinued his participation in the Mission

Report A/HRC/4/80 of 9 Mar. 2007;

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Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights

Security Council resolution 1564 (2004) of 18 Sep. 2004

Report S/2005/60 of 1 Feb. 2005;

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Human Rights Council resolution 29/18 of 2 July 2015 (in A/70/53. pp. 203-207)

Human Rights Council decides to extend, for a period of one year, the mandate of the commission of inquiry to investigate systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in Eritrea with a view to ensuring full accountability, including where these violations may amount to crimes against humanity

Reports A/HRC/32/47 of 9 May 2016, A/HRC/29/42 of 4 June 2015, A/HRC/29/CRP.1 of 16 June 2015 (Advance version);

Oral updates: 

Statement by Mr. Mike Smith, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (21 June 2016)

Oral Update by Mr. Mike Smith, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea, at the 70th session of the General Assembly (29 Oct. 2015)

Oral Update by Mr. Mike Smith, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea at the HRC 28th session (16 Mar. 2015)

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Human Rights Council resolution 26/24 of 27 June 2014 (in A/69/53, pp. 194-198)

Human Rights Council decides to establish, for a period of one year, a commission of inquiry comprising three members, one of whom should be the Special Rapporteur, with the other two members appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council; also decides that the commission of inquiry will investigate all alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea, as outlined in the reports of the Special Rapporteur

Human Rights Council resolution S-33/1 of 17 December 2021

1. To conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law in Ethiopia committed since 3 November 2020 by all parties to the conflict, including the possible gender dimensions of such violations and abuses, by building upon the report of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission;
2. To establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations and abuses, to collect and preserve evidence, to identify those responsible, where possible, and to make such information accessible and usable in support of ongoing and future accountability efforts;
3. To provide guidance on transitional justice, including accountability, reconciliation and healing, as appropriate, and to make recommendations on technical assistance to the Government of Ethiopia to support accountability, reconciliation and healing;
4. To integrate a gender perspective and a survivor-centred approach throughout its work;
5. To engage with all relevant stakeholders, including the Government of Ethiopia, including regional State governments, the Government of Eritrea, the Office of the High Commissioner, the interministerial task force, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and civil society;

The Council requested the international Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia to present an oral briefing to the Human Rights Council at its fiftieth session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to present a written report to the Council at its fifty-first session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue.

In accordance with this mandate, the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia was established, based in Entebbe, Uganda. The President of the Human Rights Council appointed a Chair and two other high-level experts.

2 March 2022, President of Human Rights Council appoints members of investigative body in Ethiopia (English)

UN Secretary-General S/2009/556 of 28 Oct. 2009

The Commission of Inquiry shall investigate the facts and circumstances of the events of 28 September 2009 and related events  in their immediate aftermath. To that end, the Commission shall (a) establish the facts; (b) qualify the crimes; (c) determine responsibilities and, where possible, identify those responsible; and (d) make recommendations, including, in particular, on accountability measure

Report S/2009/693 of 18 Dec. 2009;

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High Commissioner for Human Rights

Statement by President of the Security Council S/25918 of 9 June 1993

Human Rights Council  resolution 43/39 of 22 June 2020 (in A/75/53, pp. 133-139)

Human Rights Council requests the High Commissioner to immediately establish and dispatch a fact-finding mission to Libya, and to designate experts to implement, in an independent and impartial manner, for a period of one year, the following mandate:

(a) to establish the facts and circumstances of the situation of human rights throughout Libya, and to collect and review relevant information, to document alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016, including any gendered dimensions of such violations and abuses, and to preserve evidence with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of violations or abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law are held accountable;

(b) to work in cooperation with the Libyan authorities, the League of Arab States, the African Union and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.

Follow-up report A/HRC/49/4 of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya  - 28 March 2022 (العربية | English)

Report A/HRC/48/83 of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya – 1 October 2021 (English)

2020, 5 Oct. - Statement of Mr Mohamed Auajjar at the 45th Human Rights Council session

Human Rights Council  resolution 28/30 of 27 Mar. 2015 (in A/70/53, pp. 128-132)

Human Rights Council resolutions S-15/1 of 25 Feb. 2011 (in A/66/53, pp. 25-27) and 17/17 of 17 June 2011 (in A/66/53, pp. 170-171)

Human Rights Council decides to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law in Libya, to establish the facts and circumstances of such violations and of the crimes perpetrated, and, where possible to identify those responsible, to make recommendations, in particular, on accountability measures, all with a view to ensuring that those individuals responsible are held accountable, and to report to the Council at its seventeenth session, and calls upon the Libyan authorities to fully cooperate with the commission (resolution S-15/1)

Human Rights Council decides to extend the mandate of the commission of inquiry established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution S-15/1, and requests the commission to continue its work, including through visits, and to provide an oral update to the Council at its eighteenth session, and a final written report at its nineteenth session (resolution 17/17)

Mr. Philippe KIRSCH (Canada), Chairperson from October 2011; Mr. Cherif BASSIOUNI (Egypt) (originally the Chairperson) and Ms. Asma KHADER (Jordan)

Reports A/HRC/17/44 of 28 Jan. 2014,  A/HRC/19/68 of 28 Jan. 2014, A/HRC/19/CRP.1 of 28 Jan. 2014 (available here (Annex I) in MS Word format);

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Established by the UN Secretary-General on 19 Jan. 2018 in accordance with article 46 of the June 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali (UN COI for Mali page) 

• Investigate allegations of abuses and serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including allegations of conflict-related sexual violence, committed throughout the territory of Mali between 1 January 2012 and the date of the establishment of the Commission (19 January 2018);
• Establish the facts and circumstances concerning the commission of such abuses and violations, including those that may constitute international crimes, and identify those allegedly responsible for such abuses and violations;
• Submit a written report on its investigation and its conclusions to the Secretary-General within a year from the date of the effective commencement of its work. In the report, the Commission will also present recommendations to the Secretary-General and all competent authorities, with a view to combating impunity in relation to the abuses and violations identified.

Report S/2020/1332 (29 Jan. 2021)
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Human Rights Council resolution 22/18 of 21 Mar. 2013 (in A/68/53, pp. 59-61)

Report A/HRC/23/57 of 26 June 2013;

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General Assembly resolution 3114 (XXVIII) of 12 Dec. 1973

Report A/9621 (General Assembly Official Records, Supplement 21, 1974);

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Security Council resolution 935 (1994) of 1 July 1994

Mr. Atsu-Koffi AMEGA (Togo) Chair, Ms. Habi DIENG (Guinea), Mr. Salifou FOMBA (Mali)

Reports S/1994/1125 of 4 Oct. 1994 and S/1994/1405 of 9 Dec. 1994;

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Human Rights Council resolutions 43/27 of 22 June 2020, 46/23 of 24 Mar. 2021

Ms. Yasmin Sooka (South Africa) - Chairperson, Mr. Andrew Clapham (UK and Switzerland), Mr. Barney Afako (Uganda)

Former Commissioners:
Mr. Kenneth Scott (United States), Mr. Godfrey Musila (Kenya)

Ms Yasmin Sooka, Chair (South Africa), Mr Andrew Clapham (United Kingdom), Mr Barney Afako (Uganda)

Former Commissioners:
Mr. Kenneth Scott (United States), Mr. Godfrey Musila (Kenya)

Human Rights Council resolution S-26/1 of 14 Dec. 2016

      (a)  To monitor and report, including publicly, on the situation of human rights in South Sudan, and to make recommendations to prevent further deterioration of the situation with a view to its improvement;

      (b) To investigate alleged violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes, including those involving sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, to establish the facts and circumstances thereof, and to identify alleged perpetrators of such alleged violations and abuses and of crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability;

      (c) To assess past reports on the situation of human rights since December 2013 in order to establish a factual basis for transitional justice;

      (d) To provide guidance on transitional justice, including accountability, and reconciliation and healing, as appropriate, and – once the Government commits to ending the violence against the civilian population and to cooperating with the hybrid court for South Sudan – to make recommendations on technical assistance to the Government to support accountability, reconciliation and healing;

      (e) To engage with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, international and regional mechanisms, including the United Nations, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the African Union and its African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Chair and civil society, with a view to providing information based on its engagement with relevant stakeholders, and to provide support to national, regional and international efforts to promote accountability for human rights violations and abuses, including those involving sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence;

Human Rights Council resolution 31/20 of 23 Mar. 2016

Human Rights Council resolution 29/13 of 2 July 2015 (in A/70/53, pp. 186-190)

Reports A/HRC/31/49 (22 Apr. 2016 and A/HRC/31/CRP.6 (10 Mar. 2016);

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High Commissioner for Human Rights

Established jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the Secretary-General of African Unity upon request of the Government of Togo 

Report E/CN.4/2001/134-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/3 of 22 Feb. 2001;

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High Commissioner for Human Rights