REGIONAL LAW BODY EXPANDS TO DR CONGO

The East African Law Society (EALS) will expand to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The giant, resource-rich country was recently admitted as the seventh member of the East African Community (EAC).

To start with, the premier bar association in the region will facilitate the entry of DRC's 25,000 lawyers into the EALS. 

Expansion of the Arusha-based regional law body follows a recent mission to DR Congo led by the EALS President Bernard Oundo.

"The purpose of the mission was to lobby the DRC's legal fraternity to join the EALS", the organization said in a statement.

EALS is the largest professional membership organization for lawyers in East Africa with over 30,000 members.

Its members are drawn from the national bar associations of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya,Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan

Tanzania is represented by two advocates' bodies being the Tanganyika Law Society and the Zanzibar Law Society.

During the visit to Kinshasa, the delegation met with officials from the DRC National Bar Association as well as representatives of the autonomous bars there.

Additionally, the EALS team held deliberations with officials from the private sector in the DRC led by Mr. Tsibangu Katuala from the Federation des Entreprises du Congo (FEC).

According to Mr. Oundo, the admission of DR Congo into the EAC will create "immense opportunities for trade between the member states".

Mr. Oundo and Michel Shebele Makoba, the leader of  DRC's National Bar Association, agreed to forge a  partnership that will enhance regional integration.

The exercise will begin with facilitation of the entry of the DR Congo's 25,000 lawyers into the regional bar association.

With the full entry of lawyers from the DRC, EALS will boast of over 60,000 members drawn from all the seven members of the bloc.

David Sigano, the acting CEO of the umbrella bar association in the region, the admission of DRC into the EAC blow was a blessing to the legal profession.

"The development was a welcome opportunity for lawyers who will now have access to a large market under the EALS", said.

The bar association works to promote good governance and the rule of law in the EA region and enjoys observer status to the EAC.