BUJUMBURA November 4th (ABP) – The President of the Court of Justice of the East African Community (EAC), Nestor Kayobera, hosted a press conference on Wednesday November 3, 2021 in Bujumbura to announce the International Conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Court of Justice of the East African Community which will take place in Bujumbura on November 4 to 5, 2021.
According to Mr. Kayobera, that activity will be officially launched by the President of the Republic of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye and will see the participation of various high political, judicial, technical and diplomatic personalities including the presidents of Supreme Courts from member countries of the EAC, the ministers in charge of justice, the heads of different bodies and institutions of the EAC such as the general secretariat, the legislative assembly of the EAC, current and former judges of the Court, lawyers of the ‘State, private attorneys and other guests.
He listed some activities that are planned for that purpose such as the validation of the information technology strategy for a period of 5 years (2021-2026) which took place on the dates of November 2 to 3, 2021, hearings public will be conducted on November 8-26, 2021 by the two divisions of the Court for the November session at the Supreme Court of Burundi and more than 30 cases from all member states will be heard. He added that the Court will be able to deliver some judgments before the close of its sessions towards the end of the month.
Mr. Kayobera reported that since its establishment in November 2001, more than 500 cases have been brought before the Court, of which more than 300 cases have been closed and around 150 cases are pending. He took that opportunity to inform that among the 500 cases received by the Court, 60 cases come from Burundi. The Court has set up sub-registries in each Member State and within the framework of facilitating the population’s access to justice.
The President of the EAC Court of Justice did not forget to mention that the overall objective of moving the Court from Arusha to the Member States is its intention to bring justice closer to litigants, to make its users understand the jurisdiction of the Court and its role in the regional integration process.
Asked journalists what Burundi gains as a member of the Court of Justice of the East African Community, Mr. Kayobera replied that the Court is a judicial body of the EAC, and that Burundi draws the same advantages that it enjoys for courts and tribunals in the country. Burundi also benefits from being a member of a regional and international jurisdiction. For Burundian citizens, it is a judicial power to seize when they see that their rights are violated after having seized the domestic courts