Law body punishes Tanzania over human rights concerns

The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has announced it is relocating its 30th Annual Conference and General Meeting from Zanzibar to Addis Ababa, citing rising political uncertainty in Tanzania and growing concerns over regional human rights conditions, reports Uzalendo News. The decision comes as Tanzania heads into a tense election season. EALS said it could not guarantee the safety and comfort of over 800 delegates expected from across the East African community and beyond. This year’s conference marks a major milestone for the regional Bar, which is celebrating 30 years since its founding. With over 45 000 members, EALS has grown into one of the continent’s most influential legal networks. Its leadership says Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa and home to the African Union, offers a fitting and secure venue. The move follows a spate of legal controversies in the region. In Tanzania, prominent opposition leader and lawyer Tundu Lissu was recently forced to represent himself in court after his legal team was repeatedly harassed, and others like Martha Karua from Kenya blocked from the court. Meanwhile, EALS has also voiced concern over rising tensions in Kenya’s legal environment, where lawyers critical of government policies have reported harassment and threats. ‘The conference is not just about reflection – it’s about recommitment to the rule of law and regional solidarity,’ said EALS president Ramadhan Abubakar. He added that hosting the event in Ethiopia also celebrates the recent inclusion of the Ethiopian Federal Advocates Association into EALS. The conference, to be held later this year, is expected to include judicial roundtables, legal reforms discussions and a formal welcome for Ethiopia’s legal fraternity marking a new chapter for EALS as it expands its continental footprint.

Full report in Uzalendo News