The 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) took place in Banjul, The Gambia, from October 21 to 30, 2025. The session was attended by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, along with several member organizations, including CODHAS-RDC, Crime Si Poa, ECPM, FIACAT, FIDH, Kenya Human Rights Commission, LHRC, the Nigerien Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and the National Tunisian Coalition Against the Death Penalty. These organizations engaged in country-specific advocacy, focusing on Botswana, Egypt, and Tunisia, which submitted their periodic state reports to the ACHPR. Concluding observations and recommendations are expected to be issued in upcoming sessions. Despite Niger and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) not being studied during this session, bilateral advocacy was led by World Coalition members. The Nigerien Coalition Against the Death Penalty raised concerns with Commissioner Salma Sassi, highlighting the rising terrorism in the Sahel, which threatens the prospects for abolition. CODHAS, meanwhile, held discussions on the death penalty in the DRC and broader human rights issues, including the situation of human rights defenders in the eastern DRC, affected by the M23 rebellion. The World Coalition and abolitionist civil society drafted a resolution on security and the death penalty, addressing the theme of the World Day Against the Death Penalty 2024 and 2025. This resolution highlighted the varying interpretations of security and its political exploitation, emphasizing the need for a human security approach. The new Bureau, consisting of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, was elected following internal elections at the ACHPR. Commissioner Idrissa Sow was elected Chairperson, and Commissioner Hatem Essaiem was elected Vice-Chairperson, both continuing their roles in various ACHPR committees and working groups.
