for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. The Court set a ninety (90) day limit for receiving observations on the Request. 12. On 28 January 2021, the AU Member States and entities indicated above were given an extension of forty-five (45) days to submit their observations on the Request. In the same letter, four new entities were added to the list: Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa, COVID-DEM, Journal of African Law and International IDEA. 13. On 26 April 2021, the SOAS Centre for Human Rights Law, on behalf of the Journal of African Law, deposited an amicus curiae brief after it had been granted, suo motu, an extension of time of seven (7) days. Apart from this amicus curiae brief, the Court did not receive any submission from the entities notified of the Request. 14. By a notice dated 22 June 2021, the Author and all entities cited in paragraphs 11 and 12 above, were notified of the closure of pleadings. IV. JURISDICTION 15. Article 4(1) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”), whose provisions are reiterated in Rule 82(1) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter referred to as “the Rules”),2 provides as follows: At the request of a Member State of the OAU, the OAU, any of its organs, or any African organisation recognised by the OAU, the Court may provide 2 Formerly Rule 68, Rules of Court 2010. 5