AJTN Conference and AGM 2025

Johannesburg, January 25, 2025 – The African Judicial Training Network (AJTN) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference at the Hotel 54 on Bath, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa, from January 22 to 24, 2025. The event brought together representatives from 19 African nations, reaffirming AJTN’s commitment to enhancing judicial training and promoting excellence in judicial systems across the continent.

Strengthening the Network

A major highlight of the AGM was the election of a new Chairperson, Justice Souleymane Teliko of Senegal, who succeeds Mademba Gueye. Justice Freda Githiru, the outgoing Deputy Chair, welcomed all attendees and introduced the new leadership.

The AGM also saw the admission of three new member countries – Angola, Nigeria, and Somalia – strengthening the network’s reach and influence. Justice Githiru extended a warm welcome to the new members, emphasising that their inclusion would enrich the network’s diversity and strengthen collective knowledge. She also noted the apologies received from Niger.

Reflecting on his new role, Justice Teliko emphasised the importance of unified efforts in improving judicial training across Africa:

“Our mission to promote excellence in the training of judicial officers is more relevant than ever. The future of justice on our continent depends largely on the commitment of our training institutions to produce competent judicial officers with integrity and respect for the fundamental principles of justice.”

Key discussions and outcomes

The AGM addressed several key action points aimed at strengthening the Network:

Bank Account and Membership Fees – A bank account was successfully opened, and the membership fee was confirmed at $500 for 2024 and 2025. Outstanding fees will be followed up by the Secretariat.
New Training Manual – The January 2024 AGM had endorsed the creation of a trainers’ manual on ethics, now available in English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili. The 2025 AGM confirmed that a new manual on Sentencing Guidelines will be developed this year using existing funds for Anglophone countries.
Expansion of Activities – Five new webinars are planned for 2025, including topics on judicial independence, strategic litigation, and sentencing guidelines. The Francophone members also proposed developing a manual on establishing and managing a judicial training institute.

Justice Teliko highlighted AJTN’s growing influence and the importance of strategic partnerships:

“Through cooperation, sharing of best practices, and strengthening judicial skills, we are creating a more harmonised and resilient African judicial system.”

Leadership challenges

Concerns were raised about the consistency of leadership following three changes in the Chair within a short period. The Steering Committee was tasked with reviewing the AJTN Constitution to address these challenges and ensure greater stability in leadership moving forward.

Growing regional cooperation

AJTN’s engagement at the International Organisation for Judicial Training (IOJT) conference in South Korea in November 2024 highlighted the importance of international partnerships. The network signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IOJT, paving the way for enhanced global cooperation in judicial training.

Commitment to the future

With new leadership, expanded membership, and a clear strategic focus, AJTN remains committed to promoting quality justice across Africa. The next AGM will be held on 12-13 February 2025 in Mauritius.

Justice Teliko reinforced the network’s vision for the future:

“Our goal is to create a network where judicial officers have the skills and support needed to navigate complex legal challenges and uphold justice with independence and integrity.”