ARUSHA, Tanzania | The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has embarked on a transformative journey to digitize and disseminate its jurisprudence, aiming to make its decisions more accessible to legal practitioners, scholars, and the public across Africa. On November 15, 2024, the President of the Court, Hon. Justice Nestor Kayobera, joined by other judges, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Legal Information Institute (AfricanLII) and Laws.Africa in a collaborative effort to promote transparency and enhance the reach of the Court’s work.

This agreement formalizes a partnership centered on digitizing and publishing EACJ judgments and other legal documentation. The collaboration also includes providing electronic legal research training to the Court’s judges and staff and fostering regular consultations to identify additional projects that align with the shared mission of improving access to justice.

During the signing ceremony, Justice Kayobera highlighted the critical importance of open access to the Court’s decisions. He underscored that digitizing EACJ jurisprudence would empower judges, lawyers, and academics across the region by making vital legal information readily available. Justice Kayobera reaffirmed that this initiative is not only about technological progress but also about fulfilling the Court’s mandate to promote justice across East Africa.

Representing AfricanLII at the event, Ms. Mariya Badeva, Project Lead and Africa Director, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. She explained that AfricanLII is dedicated to making legal information freely accessible to the public and emphasized that this collaboration is a natural extension of the organization’s work with judiciaries across Africa. She noted that the EACJ is the second regional court to partner with AfricanLII, following the successful collaboration with the COMESA Court.

Principal Judge Hon. Justice Yohane Masara, drawing on his experience with AfricanLII’s work in Tanzania, commended the initiative, expressing optimism that the EACJ will reap significant benefits from the partnership. He reiterated the Court’s commitment to leveraging this collaboration to advance its role as a custodian of justice within the East African Community.

The MoU represents more than just an agreement; it is a step toward bridging gaps in access to legal resources. AfricanLII, based at the University of Cape Town, and its partner, Laws.Africa, have built a reputation for using technology to unlock the value of African legal information. Together, they operate a regional legal research platform that has become an essential resource for lawyers, academics, and policymakers.