• Honorable Siaka Sonko, Minister of Interior
• Honorable Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad
• Honorable Chairperson of the ACHPR, Professor Rémy Ngoy Lumbu;
• Vice-Chairperson and Honorable Commissioners of the ACHPR;
• Excellencies Officials of the Government of The Gambia; - Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good Morning to you all,

I am particularly pleased to be here today on behalf of the African Union Commission, for the Official Ceremony of the Laying of the Foundation Stone on the Land for the Permanent Headquarters of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights here in Banjul, The Gambia. 

The city of Banjul is a momentous in the history of human rights on the African continent, because of the important role played by the Government of The Gambia in the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights- adopted in 1981 and entered into force in 1986.

As you know, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights is the premier human rights Organ of the Africa Union in charge of the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, established under Article 30 of the African Charter, it became operational in 1987 and its headquarters was temporarily based at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before being permanently relocated to Banjul in 1989. 

I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Mr. Adama Barrow and the people of The Gambia for the warm hospitality accorded to the Members of this Commission and staff of its Secretariat over the years. 

I must also commend and thank the Government of Gambia for having accepted to host the Commission's headquarters, considering the substantial burden that this entails. 

Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have been waiting for this important moment as the Commission's activity reports to the Policy Organs of the African Union have consistently highlighted the urgent need for the construction of the headquarters of this important Organ of the African Union, here in Banjul.

It is therefore a moment of great pleasure that we are here today to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the headquarters of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which coincides with the commemoration of its 35^th Anniversary of the establishment which will be celebrated tomorrow, 21 October 2022, at the opening of the 73rd Ordinary Session of the Commission. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of The Gambia on this milestone of the solemn laying of the foundation stone. 

Distinguished guests; Ladies and Gentlemen;

This ceremony is only the beginning to the commitment on the part of the Government of The Gambia, in ensuring the full realization of the construction of the permanent headquarters of the Secretariat of the Commission, in the very near future. 

I reiterate the willingness of the African Union Commission to work jointly with the Government of The Gambia and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights towards the implementation of the decisions of the Executive Council in particular, calling for the establishment of the special fund for the mobilization of the necessary resources, for the construction of the permanent headquarters of the Commission.

It is with these few words, that I once again convey the profound appreciation of the African Union Commission and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia and the Government of The Gambia, for this important step in the fulfilling its obligations under the host agreement. I look forward to returning to The Gambia in the very near future, to officially open the newly constructed headquarters of the Commission.

I thank you for your kind attention.