PROCEDURE Jurisdiction Contentious cases The Court determines its own jurisdiction The Court’s jurisdiction is a question of law, which it has to determine on its own even if none of the parties challenges its jurisdiction (Abubakari Mohamed v The United Republic of Tanzania, Merits, Application 007/2013, 3 June 2016, para 32; African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Libya, Merits, Application 002/2013, 3 June 2016, para 44). The fact that the parties do not cite the relevant provisions does not preclude the Court from exercising jurisdiction since ‘the Court shall rule according to the law and is in a position to ground its jurisdiction on the appropriate provisions (Abubakari Mohamed v The United Republic of Tanzania, Merits, Application 007/2013, 3 June 2016, para 32).

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