African Bar Association
Established in 1971 as a professional body uniting individual lawyers and national legal associations in Africa, the African Bar Association (AFBA) was designed to be a federation of national legal associations, corporate and unincorporated legal entities, and individual lawyers.
The Association seeks amongst other objectives to foster the exchange of opinions and experiences among members, formulation of policies that would better reposition the continent’s socio-economic and political development and advancement with the law as the bedrock for these developments, and lastly breaking new legal frontiers. The Association brings together the five African sub-regional Lawyers, their respective National Associations spread over the AFBA continent.
The AFBA organizational structure consists of a 64 member Governing Council called the African Bar Council and the Executive Committee. These two arms form the highest decision making organs of the Association.
The African Bar Association’s headquarters is situated in Abuja but it’s functional office is in Lagos, Nigeria.
In order to further reach out to all members in the various member states, the AFBA recommends the creation of national committees in each member state.
Mission Statement
To be the regional voice of the legal profession in Africa, bringing together the brightest minds in the world for the betterment of Africa.
Constitution
The African Bar Association has a Constitution and the objects of the constitution guarded its functions. The first President of the African Bar Association was Dr. Rodger M. A. Chongwe of Zambia who later became the Attorney General of Zambia.
Headquarters
A permanent secretariat for the association is located at Plot 2031, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Wuse, Zone 7, Abuja, which was built at a full cost to the Federal Government of Nigeria in fulfillment of their pledge at the 6th African Bar Association Biennial Conference (1991) and handed over to the Association in January 1995.
With the secretariat in Abuja, the African Bar Association became the foremost International Association in Africa with 18 member bar associations and law societies, themselves representing over 100,000 lawyers.
Objective
The AFBA is committed to the following objectives:
- To maintain the honor and integrity of the legal profession through the promotion of the highest standards of professional ethics
- To strengthen professional links between members of the legal profession in Africa
- Encouragement and support of a strong and vibrant independent Bar Association and law societies within member states of the Association
- Encouraging adherence to the Rule of Law and the independence of the judiciary in all member states and continent at large
- Sensitization and awareness campaigns on the usefulness of the legal services to the public in member states
- Improving the standard of legal practice through comparative research into the Laws in Africa and it’s attendant benefits to it’s members
- Protection of Fundamental Human Rights within the member states of AFBA
- Advancement of the Standards of legal practice, rule of law, good corporate governance and protection of Human Rights in the continent
- Promote and support the legal process for resolving international disputes issues, electoral process within the African sub-region.