African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Delivers Judgment in Matter of Late Norbert Zongo and Others (April 1, 2014) [1]
On April 1, 2014, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) delivered its judgment [3] in the Matter of the Beneficiaries of Late Norbert Zongo and others v. Burkina Faso, finding violations of Articles 7 and 9 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Norbert Zongo was an investigating journalist and Director of the weekly paper, l’Indépendant, who was found dead, along with his companions, in Burkina Faso in 1998. According to the press release [4], the Court concluded that Burkina Faso “failed in its obligation to take measures, other than legislative, to ensure that the rights of the Applicants for their cause to be heard by competent national Courts are respected.” The Court also held that Burkina Faso “failed to act with due diligence in seeking, trying and judging the assassins of Norbert Zongo and his companions.” The parties have 30 days to submit their briefs on reparations.