PALU reaffirms dedication to Africa built on rule of law

The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) has reaffirmed its continued dedication to working towards its vision of a united, just, and prosperous Africa built on the rule of law and good governance.

Mr. Kari Abdoul Bagui, PALU President in a New Year statement copied to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) – communicate2develop@gmail.com in Accra stated.

Mr Bagui also announced that this year’s PALU Annual Conference and Triennial General Assembly will be held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in June 2025 which is expected to attract lawyers, corporate actors, academics, activists, and human rights defenders.

He noted that this year being an election year for PALU, “ we encourage both individual and institutional members to ensure they are in good standing with their subscriptions to participate fully in the elections and the other deliberations of the General Assembly.

“As we expect this event to be bigger and better, eliciting more concrete solutions on how to develop the continent as well as to address its perennial and emerging problems.”

The PALU President described 2024 as a successful year for the union, recounting that the union chopped key achievements and milestones.

He said in partnerships and collaborations with other stakeholders the union strengthened the legal profession in Africa and promoted socio-economic development, unity, and the rule of law on the continent.

“These would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment and continued involvement of members,” he said.

In 2024, PALU continued its engagements with the African Union (AU) and its Organs and Institutions towards building a stronger regional integration on the continent.

PALU in the year under review engaged with the AU Office of the Legal Counsel, co-hosted, the perennial partner, Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA) an event on the Malabo Protocol to expand the jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to include international crimes.

“We also worked with the Office of the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission (DCP) and the AU Office of the Commissioner on Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), who hosted lawyers from all over the continent and its diaspora for the Opening Ceremony of our 2024 Annual Conference.

“We participated actively in both the AU Summit in February 2024 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and its Mid-Year Coordination Summit between the AU and its Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in June 2024 (Accra, Ghana).

“We co-convened the Non-State Actors Forum for its Advisory Board against Corruption (AUABC).”

He said the union also participated in several High-Level Policy Forums on a range of issues, including Free Movement in Africa, combatting Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation; and Sovereign Debt.

The PALU President said the union also in 2024 filed new cases in various African international courts and tribunals on a range of issues from independence of the Bar, and of the judiciary; to odious debt and resource-backed loans.

“We also progressed on several of our cases from previous years, for instance on Indigenous rights,” he said.

“I am also excited to share that we have moved to a new office space effective 1st December 2024. Our new address is 1 Kaunda Street, off Haile Selassie Road, Arusha Tanzania.

“This move reflects our growth and our commitment to improving the workspace for our team and will allow the team to serve our members better,” he stated.

On membership, the PALU President said it rolled out measures to revitalize and re-energize its Membership Sections, Committees, Task Forces, and Fora.

“We also opened new schemes for PALU Correspondents and Envoys to effectively develop PALU’s networks at the regional and national levels.

“I congratulate those appointed to lead these structures. They serve as valuable platforms, allowing lawyers with shared interests to engage, network, exchange knowledge, and share best practices among peers,” Mr Bagui stated.

PALU President said “I would like to finally end by once again thanking you for your unwavering support in making the last year as remarkable as it was, and I would like to reaffirm PALU’s continued dedication to working towards its vision of a united, just and prosperous Africa built on the rule of law and good governance.

“With warm regards, On behalf of the Executive Committee and Secretariat of PALU, I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year 2025 as we look towards another wonderful year ahead.”

PALU was founded in 2002 by African Bar leaders and eminent lawyers, to reflect the aspirations and concerns of the African people and to promote and defend their shared interests.

Its membership comprises of the continent’s over five regional lawyers’ associations, over 54 national lawyers’ associations, and over 1,000 individual lawyers spread across Africa and in the Diaspora, working together to advance the law and the legal profession, rule of law, good governance, human and peoples’ rights and socio-economic development of the African continent.

   Comments0