Mauritanian government. Mr. Ahmed Motala then sent the Commission a letter dated 31 March 1996. 33. At the end of the hearings, the Commission held the view that the government did not seriously contest the allegations brought against it. The Mauritanian delegate admitted that human rights violations had indeed been committed. He did not try to explain the circumstances in which they had taken place. He requested the Commission to give its assistance in finding a solution to the problem. He further added that his government was ready to receive a delegation from the Commission to that end. Following this, the Commission reiterated its decision to send a mission to Mauritania to try and obtain an amicable settlement. It was also decided that the mission would be composed of the Chairman of the Commission and Commissioners Rezag-Bara and Ondziel-Gnelenga, as well as the Secretary to the Commission. 34. The mission was effected from 20 to 27 June 1996. 35. At the 20th session held in Grand Baie, Mauritius, the Commission considered the mission’s report and deferred the decisions on the communications to its 21st session. 36. On 7 February 1997, the Secretariat wrote to the complainants explaining to them that the mission report would be sent to the government for its observations by the end of February and that they would subsequently have the chance to make comments on the said report. 37. At the 21st session held in Nouakchott in April 1997, the Commission deferred its decision on this communication to the 22nd session, pending its receipt of the Mauritanian government’s reaction to the mission report. 38. Communication 61/91 was submitted by Amnesty International on 21 August 1991. 39. The Commission was seized of it at its 10th session, held in October 1991. 40. The Mauritanian government was notified about it by the Secretariat on 14 November 1991. 41. At the 15th session, the Commission decided to compile all the communications filed against Mauritania. 42. From that date, the procedure for the present communication became identical to that for communication 54/91. 43. Communication 96/93 was submitted on 12 March 1993 by Ms. Sarr Diop on behalf of the victims. 8