the Chairperson of the African Union Com mission and through him , the States Parties to the Protocol and the Executive Council of the African Union , of the Application . The letter also advised that should any Sta te Party to the Protocol wish to intervene in the proceedings , it should do so as soon as pos sible, and before the closure of written proceedings . 15. By a letter dated 27 June 2012, the Registrar, at the direction of the Cou rt, wrote to the Pan African Lawyers ' Union (PALU) to enquire whe ther it can consider assisting the Applicant in the matter. 16. By a letter dated 16 July 2012 and received at the Registry on 17 July 2012, PALU wrote to the Registrar indicating its willingness to assist the Applicant in the mat ter. In the said letter, PALU requested copies of the Application and othe r filings or documents related thereto. They also requ ested assistance in securing authorisation towards arranging a meeting with the Applicant. 17. By a Note Verbale dated 30 July 2012 , the Respondent communicated the nam es and addresses of its representatives in respect of the Application . 18. By a letter dated 1 Aug ust 2012, the Registra r sent a copy of the Application and all other documents filed by the Applicant thus far, to PALU . 19.