The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) has elected Justice Blaise Tchikaya of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) as its new President, succeeding Honourable Justice Modibo Sacko.
Justice Tchikaya will complete the remainder of the presidential term initially assigned to Justice Sacko, who was elected on 2 June 2025 for a two-year mandate, Justice Sacko will continue serving as a Judge of the Court.
In his farewell address, outgoing President Justice Sacko expressed sincere appreciation to fellow judges, the Court’s Registry, staff members, and stakeholders for their continued support and cooperation throughout his tenure.
Upon accepting his new role, Justice Tchikaya described the appointment as a great honour and responsibility.
“I assume this responsibility with a profound sense of duty to uphold the mandate of the Court,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of the upcoming celebrations marking the Court’s 20th anniversary, noting that the milestone presents an opportunity to reflect on achievements while addressing existing challenges in strengthening the protection of human and peoples’ rights across Africa.
Justice Tchikaya also conveyed the Court’s gratitude to Justice Sacko for his leadership and service during his presidency.
New Bureau of the Court
The newly formed Bureau of the Court now includes:
- Justice Blaise Tchikaya – President
- Bensaoula Chafika – Vice President
Background of Justice Blaise Tchikaya
Justice Tchikaya is a renowned scholar and legal expert specializing in international public law, international litigation procedures, and human rights law within both African Union and Inter-American legal systems. He has taught at several universities across Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa.
He began his academic journey at Marien N’Gouabi University in Brazzaville before continuing his higher education in France, where he earned an Advanced Studies Diploma (DEA) in Public Law. In 1992, he obtained a Doctorate in International Public Law with First Class Honors from Paris X-Nanterre University, under the supervision of Professor Alain Pellet.
In 2005, he was awarded the Pro Facultate Jurisprudentia Medal by University of Miskolc in Hungary. After receiving the Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession (CAPA) in Paris, he practiced law between 2000 and 2006 and has been registered with Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA) since 2002. He also holds a “Habilitation to Direct Research” (HDR).
In 2009, Justice Tchikaya was elected as a member of the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) during the Assembly of the African Union. The same year, he became the Commission’s first President, playing a key role in operationalizing the continental legal body.
He also served as Special Rapporteur on the legal implications of trans-Atlantic slavery against Africa from the perspective of international law.
Justice Tchikaya is widely recognized for his scholarly contributions to international public law. He has authored numerous academic articles and several influential books, including International Law Jurisprudence 1922–2015, now in its seventh edition.
In 2004, he published a major reference work on the African Union titled African Union Law: Principles, Institutions and Jurisprudence, considered an important contribution to the study of continental legal systems.
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