The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has lauded the East Africa Law Society (EALS) for its bold decision to strip Tanzania of the hosting rights for its upcoming 30th Annual Conference and General Meeting, scheduled for later this year.

In a post on his X official on Monday, June 23, 2025, the Nairobi Senator and a vocal figure in regional human rights advocacy, welcomed the decision, calling it a firm and timely stand by the legal community in defence of justice and the rule of law across East Africa.

“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,” read the statement.

His remarks come just days after Kenya and Tanzania found themselves amid a diplomatic spat, following the detention and deportation of Kenyan human rights activists from Tanzanian soil.

The incident sparked outrage from various civil society groups and political leaders in Kenya, including Sifuna, who accused the Tanzanian government of intolerance and suppressing regional cooperation in civic spaces.

“Tanzania has shown time and again its inability to uphold fundamental freedoms, especially during politically sensitive periods,” Sifuna said.

“It would have been tone-deaf and irresponsible to hold a major legal conference in a jurisdiction that does not guarantee the safety and rights of delegates.”

The decision by EALS to move the conference from Zanzibar to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was formally communicated on June 20, 2025, through a communiqué issued by the society’s president, Ramadhan Abubakar.

Sifuna’s elbowing Tanzania

 The communiqué cited Tanzania’s upcoming general elections and the absence of “firm guarantees to delegates” as the main reasons for the change of venue.

“After careful deliberation and in the absence of firm guarantees to delegates who will be attending the event, the EALS Governing Council… considered alternative venues,” the statement read.

 “We are pleased to announce that the 30th East Africa Law Society Annual Conference and General Meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.”

The conference is hailed as a strategic decision that affirms EALS’s commitment to inclusivity, safety, and expanding legal collaboration across the continent.

Addis Ababa was described by the society as a city that reflects EALS’s growing continental reach and the recent inclusion of the Ethiopian Federal Advocates Association (EFAA) into its membership.

“Hosting the Conference in Addis Ababa… also coincides with the recent inclusion of the Ethiopian Federal Advocates Association (EFAA) into EALS membership,” the communiqué noted.

Sifuna emphasised that the 2025 conference was not just another annual event but a landmark occasion for the regional legal fraternity.

“East African Law Society is turning 30 this year. This is not just about a celebration it is about standing up for the values that the organisation has defended for three decades: rule of law, democracy, and regional solidarity.”

He urged lawyers and human rights defenders to remain vigilant and united, especially in moments when foundational freedoms are at risk.

“Let this be a message to all states in the region — that the legal fraternity will not be complicit in environments where fundamental rights are trampled,” Sifuna said.

The EALS Annual Conference is expected to attract over 800 legal professionals, including judges, lawyers, corporate counsels, regulators, and academics from across East Africa and beyond.

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. Im proud to have voted for you ⁦@Ramah_Abubakar⁩ . pic.twitter.com/pjSLPRfBii

— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) June 23, 2025