Gaborone, 10 February 2026 — The Government of Botswana has nominated Professor Bonolo Ramadi Dinokopila for election as Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), one of the continent’s leading human rights bodies.

The nomination is for the Commission’s “floating seat,” with elections scheduled to be conducted by the African Union (AU) Executive Council. The final decision will be adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government during the AU’s 39th Summit.

The ACHPR, established in 1987 following the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is mandated to promote and protect human rights across Africa. It monitors compliance with the Charter, hears complaints of violations, and provides authoritative interpretations of its provisions. Botswana is a State Party to the Charter.

Dinokopila, an Associate Professor of Public Law at the University of the Free State in South Africa, is a seasoned academic and legal practitioner with more than 15 years of experience. He holds law degrees from the University of Botswana and the University of Pretoria, where his doctoral research examined the human rights mandate of the Pan-African Parliament.

His career spans legal practice, academia, and civil society. He has served as Assistant Registrar and Master of the High Court in Botswana, headed the Department of Law at the University of Botswana, and worked with national and international organisations on justice sector reform. He notably led the development of Botswana’s Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan.

If elected, Dinokopila’s appointment would mark a significant milestone in Botswana’s engagement with continental human rights institutions. Officials say his presence on the Commission would strengthen the country’s voice in AU deliberations and reinforce its commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights across Africa.