East Africa Law Society moves its 30th Anniversary celebrations from Tanzania to Ethiopia
The East Africa Law Society has scrapped plans to host its Annual Conference in Zanzibar, taking the event to Addis Ababa Ethiopia instead.
So far, the reason being given by the EALS is that Tanzania was on the verge of conducting its General Elections around the same time of the planned General Meeting.
But some observers are trying to read between the lines on why the regional bar association decided to make sudden changes against the Tanzanian Isle venue.
All the same, the 2025 EALS Annual Conference and General Meeting which also marks the 30th Anniversary of the regional legal society, will now be held in Ethiopia, according to an official statement.
“For three decades, the East Africa Law Society has stood as the flagship event of East Africa’s legal profession-a platform where ideas converge, partnerships are forged and the vision of legal excellence across the region is redefined,” reads part of the EALS statement.
The East Africa Law Society is a professional platform which brings together over eight hundred lawyers, judges, academics, regulators, corporate counsels, and policy makers from all corners of the East African Region and beyond.
According to the society, their 2025 Conference carries an even greater meaning.
“The EALS is turning 30, which is a significant milestone that calls for reflection, celebration, and recommitment,” they stated.
Since its founding in 1995, EALS has evolved into the continent’s most vibrant regional Bar, with over 45,000 members across the East African Community and a growing footprint in the Horn and Southern Africa.
The EALS 30th Anniversary, according to the learned friends, is not merely a commemoration of longevity; it is a recognition of three decades of promoting the rule of law, regional integration and the legal profession.
“Against this backdrop, the Governing Council of the East Africa Law Society has been deliberating on the best ways to give you the most memorable experience. The venue of this auspicious occasion is one of the key considerations for this celebration,” says the statement.
While Zanzibar had initially been selected as the host, recent developments in Tanzania, including the upcoming general elections in the country, scheduled around the same period-have necessitated a reconsideration.
“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 16th June 2025 considered alternative venues for the 30th East Africa Law Society Annual Conference and General Meeting.”
“Arising from that meeting, we are pleased to announce that the 30th East Africa Law Society Annual Conference and General Meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This decision underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring safety, comfort, and inclusive participation of all our members.”
The EALS explained that it deeply appreciates the spirit of regional cooperation and is confident that Ethiopia, the center of continental diplomacy in Africa and now a growing part of the legal fraternity, will offer a fitting backdrop for this grand celebration.