East Africa Law Society relocates 30th annual conference from Zanzibar to Addis Ababa
EALS noted that the change was necessary to ensure the safety, comfort and full participation of its over 800 expected delegates.
The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has announced a change in venue for its highly anticipated 30th Annual Conference and General Meeting.
Originally slated to take place in Zanzibar later this year, the event will now be hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
More To Read
- Civic group condemns Addis Ababa’s exclusion from 2025/26 Federal Budget subsidies
- Tanzania’s digital dissenters face crackdown as election nears
- Mombasa police fail to charge four activists, drawing criticism over unlawful detention
- MPs demand British military to face probe over rights abuses
- UN sounds alarm over Tanzania’s "shrinking democratic space"
- Tanzania bars opposition leader Godbless Lema from entering Kenya
The announcement was made by EALS President Ramadhan Abubakar in a statement on X on Monday following a meeting of the Governing Council on June 16, 2025.
Citing recent developments in Tanzania, including the upcoming general election scheduled for later this year, EALS noted that the change was necessary to ensure the safety, comfort and full participation of its over 800 expected delegates.
"After careful deliberation and in the absence of firm guarantees to delegates who will be attending the event, the EALS Governing Council in its meeting on June 16, 2025, considered alternative events for the 30th East Africa Law Society Annual Conference and General meeting," said Ramadhan in the statement.
"Arising from that meeting, we are pleased to announce that the 30th East Africa Annual Conference and General Meeting will be held in Addis Ababa."
According to EALS, the decision to relocate the event to Addis Ababa presents a timely opportunity to highlight the Society's expanding footprint beyond the East African region and to deepen relationships with new partners on the continent.
With Ethiopia's recent inclusion into the Society, Addis Ababa presents an ideal stage to celebrate this development and foster stronger legal cooperation across borders.
"EALS deeply appreciates the spirit of regional cooperation and is confident that Ethiopia, the centre of continental diplomacy in Africa and now a growing part of our legal fraternity, will offer a fitting backdrop for this grand celebration," said EALS.
"Hosting the conference in Addis Ababa not only marks EALS' growing continental reach but also coincides with the recent inclusion of the Ethiopian Federal Advocates Association into EALS membership.
According to EALS, additional details about the conference's program, registration and logistics will be released in the coming weeks.
While Zanzibar was intended to host the Conference, the development is seen as a blow for Tanzania as a whole because Zanzibar is part of the Samia Suluhu-led nation.
The situation is compounded by recent backlash after Tanzanian authorities barred Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua from attending opposition leader Tundu Lissu's trial, raising concerns about political openness
The move has sparked strong reactions from a section of Kenyan leaders, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressing support for the decision.
"Thanks to the leadership of the East Africa Law Society, led by President @Ramah_Abubakar, for this bold decision to strip Tanzania of hosting rights for the EALS conference. I'm proud to have voted for you @Ramah_Abubakar," Sifuna said in a statement on X on Monday.
Top Stories Today
