The African Union (AU) adopted a protocol in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, known as the Malabo Protocol.  The Malabo Protocol is an agreement which, when ratified by the 15 member states, would grant criminal jurisdiction to the existing African Court, which is proposed to be merged with the African Court of Justice to create an African Court of Justice and Human  Rights (ACJHR). 

The new court will have jurisdiction to adjudicate interstate disputes and human rights violations, as well as prosecute serious crimes committed by individuals and corporations on the African continent.

Justice David Maranga, Kenya’s Chief Justice who affirmed the country’s contribution during a familiarization tour of the African Court at Arusha, Tanzania also pledged support of Kenya to Court.

Justice Sylvain Ore’ President of the African Court expressed concern that since the adoption of the Malabo Protocol in 2014, “there is not even a single country which has ratified it and that for the extended mandate to be enforced, it needs at least 15 ratifications out of 55 AU member States (Morocco,included)”.

In a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency after the close door meeting with Justice Maranga; the President of the African Court, Justice Ore said the resolved of the AU to set up a court with criminal jurisdiction is a good move.

He said it would also give strong effective and constitutional backing making the court the potential to provide a strong African option in achieving justice for the victims of international and other serious crimes.

Justice Ore, appealed to African Governments to initiate domestic process for the ratification of the Malabo Protocol.