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The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has elected Honourable Justice Modibo Sacko of Mali as its new President, and Honourable Lady Justice Bensaoula Chafika of Algeria as the Vice President. The election took place yesterday, 2 June 2025 during the opening of the Court’s 77^th Ordinary Session at its seat in Arusha, Tanzania. The Session will run up to 27 June 2025.

Honourable Justice Sacko takes over from Honourable Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, whose term as President came to an end after being in the Bureau for four years from 2021 to 2025. Justice Modibo Sacko served as the Vice President during the final two years of Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud’s Presidency.

The new Bureau will serve a two-year term from 2025 to 2027 in accordance with Article 21 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Hon. Justice Sacko Modibo is a citizen of the Republic of Mali. He was elected Judge of the African Court in February 2021, for a six-year term. He was elected as Vice President of the Court in July 2023 for a two-year term.

Lady Justice Bensaoula Chafika is a national of Algeria who was elected judge of the African Court in January 2017 during the 28^th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, for a six-year term. She was re-elected in February 2023 for a second term of six years.

The African Court Coalition congratulates the new Judge President and his Vice and we wish them all the best in leading the African Court in the execution of its mandate for the protection of human rights in the continent. 

Read the full profiles of the Judge President, Hon. Justice Sacko Modibo and the Vice-President Lady Justice Bensaoula Chafika on the Court’s website through THIS LINK.