Halifet Ayemohammed Yusuf, a first-year MA in Global African Studies student at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, presented her research at the Landmark Judgments by African Union Human Rights Bodies Conference, held from June 25 to 26, 2026, at the Future Africa Campus, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Organized by the NRF South African Research Chair in International Constitutional Law and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with Monash University, the conference brought together scholars, judges, legal practitioners, civil society representatives, students, and human rights experts to examine key decisions by African Union human rights bodies.
Yusuf’s paper was selected as one of 26 presentations from more than 200 abstracts submitted. Her presentation focused on Abubaker Ahmed and 28 Others v. Ethiopia, a case before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, examining how Dimtsachen Yisema evolved from a protest movement into a legal rights claim.
Yusuf, who specializes in Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations, said the conference aligned closely with her academic focus and the interdisciplinary scope of Global African Studies.
“My presentation explored how African regional institutions shape governance, state accountability, and Africa’s engagement with international legal and political systems. These are central themes in Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations, demonstrating how legal institutions, social movements, and international relations intersect to address contemporary African challenges,” she said.
Selected papers from the conference will be considered for publication in a special edition of the African Human Rights Yearbook.
Halifet’s participation reflects Global Studies University’s interdisciplinary approach to Global African Studies, bringing together academic perspectives on law, diplomacy, governance, and international relations.
