In a significant shift in Africa’s judicial leadership, Justice Modibo Sacko of Mali has been elected President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR). The announcement was made during the Court’s 77th ordinary session, currently underway in Arusha (Tanzania) where the Court is headquartered. Justice Sacko takes over from Tanzania’s Justice Imani Daud Aboud, under whom he served as Vice President since 2023, marking a seamless transition rooted in institutional continuity.
His elevation to the presidency signals Mali’s increasing prominence within continental governance structures at a time when human rights jurisprudence is gaining renewed urgency across Africa. Alongside Sacko, Algerian Justice Bensaoula Chafika was elected to the vice presidency, succeeding him in the deputy role. The leadership reshuffle aligns with the Court’s rotational structure, which ensures regional balance and judicial independence. Presidents and vice presidents of the AfCHPR serve renewable two-year terms, while judges are appointed for six-year stints, with a possibility of re-election once.
Established in 2006, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights serves as the continent’s highest judicial body on human rights matters. Comprising judges from eleven African Union member states, the Court seeks to uphold justice, liberty, and the dignity of individuals and peoples. Sacko’s presidency comes at a pivotal moment as the Court grapples with evolving challenges in human rights enforcement, the shrinking civic space across some regions, and the need for stronger continental jurisprudence to protect vulnerable populations.