Benin and Ivory Coast become the third and fourth countries to withdraw their declaration under Article 34 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR).

Benin announced an end to individual and NGO direct access to the court on March 16, while Ivory Coast did the same on April 21.

The decision by Benin and Ivory Coast was officially announced early this month by the Court’s Registrar, Robert Eno.

Benin and Ivory Coast’s withdrawal will likely mean that only six AU countries will allow individuals and NGOs to have direct access to the Court a year from now.

Ivory Coast ’s withdrawal came directly after an April 22 judgment on provisional measures in which the Court ordered a national court to suspend the arrest warrant of Guillaume Soro, a former rebel leader running for president.