HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMES

As part of its closing ceremony, the ICTR in collaboration with KAS hosted a high-level roundtable discussions that were moderated by the ICTR Prosecutor and other high-level officials from national and international organizations. Participants included judges, attorneys general, prosecutors among others mainly from African countries that have successfully implemented the principle of complementarity through the development of meaningful accountability measures at the national level.

THE RULE OF LAW AND INVESTMENT CONFERENCE: INVESTIGATING MOTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT

The importance of promoting the rule of law as relates to investments and development has gained recognition in recent years. Promoting the rule of law requires measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of the law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, public participation in decision-making, access to information, access to justice, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness, and procedural and legal transparency.

ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY IN POLITICAL PROCESSES

This year's Annual Jurists' Conference on the theme ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY IN POLITICAL PROCESSES, FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: LESSONS FOR AFRICA was jointly organized by The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists and the National Gender Equality Commission and brought together state and non-state political and electoral policy-makers, members of parliament, judges, lawyers, scholars and civil society representatives from various African countries. Dr. Maureen Mwanawasa, former first lady of the Republic of Zambia opened the conference.

STAKEHOLDERS’ CONFERENCE ON COMBATING CORRUPTION IN AFRICA

Stakeholders from over 10 countries on the continent convened in Cape Town, South Africa to explore possible and viable steps towards effective fight against corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The conference was jointly organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung under the auspices of its Rule of Law Program for Sub-Saharan Africa and Accountability Now (IFAISA).

FIRST AFRICA COLLOQUIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL RULE OF LAW

Over 160 representatives of Africa's judiciary and law enforcement authorities converged in Nairobi for the 1st Africa Colloquium on Environmental Rule of Law that was jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office of the Chief Justice of Kenya, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Judiciary Training Institute of Kenya (JTI).

Meeting of the African Expert Study Group on International Criminal Justice

Organized by the KAS Rule of Law Program for Sub Saharan Africa, the Expert Group meets yearly to elaborate, reflect and evaluate the developments of International Criminal Justice from an African perspective. At this year's meeting in Kigali, Rwanda the group focused on issues such as impunity, immunity of heads of states as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the International Criminal Court.

GIZ cuts funding to Burundi as Nkurunziza begins third presidential term

The GIZ, a leading German development agency, asked the East African Community (EAC) to exclude Burundi from all programmes it funds. As the EAC makes decisions through consensus, this would also have negative effects on the whole regional bloc. The GIZ's decision to cut funds stems from the controversial third term of Pierre Nkurunziza as Burundis President. The US as well as European countries have also threatened with serious consequences.

2nd International Annual Law Conference

Terrorism: Challenges to emerging democracies in Africa

During this year's Annual Law Conference distinguished academics, politicians and other stakeholders from all around the world discussed the global phenomenon of terrorism, its origins, its legal implications and possible counter measures.

THE COST OF THE 2010 CONSTITUTION: COST ANALYSIS OF THE NEW GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK

This paper presented by Dr. Luis Francheschi at the KAS' Haki na Sheria forum held in Nairobi on 9th July 2015 sought to interrogate the Cost of Devolution in Kenya under the new Constitutional dispensation with particular reference to its impact on the Country's public finance.

Pan African Lawyers Union request for provisional measures to stay presidential elections in Burundi disallowed by EACJ

The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the East African Civil Society Organisation's Forum (EACSOF) filed two applications at the East African Court of Justice to review the legality of Pierre Nkurunziza third run for presidential election in Burundi. In a controversial decision the countries' constitutional court had previously approved his potential re-election. PALU's request to stay the election was rejected by the EACJ. EACSOF's reference remains to be heard.