Article 46
The Commission may resort to any appropriate method of investigation; it may hear from
the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity or any other person capable of
enlightening it.

Communication from States

Article 47
If a State party to the present Charter has good reasons to believe that another State party
to this Charter has violated the provisions of the Charter, it may draw, by written
communication, the attention of that State to the matter. This communication shall also be
addressed to the Secretary General of the OAU and to the Chairman of the Commission.
Within three months of the receipt of the communication, the State to which the
communication is addressed shall give the enquiring State, written explanation or
statement elucidating the matter. This should include as much as possible relevant
information relating to the laws and rules of procedure applied and applicable, and the
redress already given or course of action available.

Article 48
If within three months from the date on which the original communication is received by
the State to which it is addressed, the issue is not settled to the satisfaction of the two States
involved through bilateral negotiation or by any other peaceful procedure, either State
shall have the right to submit the matter to the Commission through the Chairman and
shall notify the other States involved.

Article 49
Notwithstanding the provisions of 47, if a State party to the present Charter considers that
another State party has violated the provisions of the Charter, it may refer the matter
directly to the Commission by addressing a communication to the Chairman, to the
Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity and the State concerned.

Article 50
The Commission can only deal with a matter submitted to it after making sure that all local
remedies, if they exist, have been exhausted, unless it is obvious to the Commission that the
procedure of achieving these remedies would be unduly prolonged.

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