Copyright : Re-publication of this article is authorised only in the following circumstances; the writer and Africa Legal are both recognised as the author and the website address www.africa-legal.com and original article link are back linked. Re-publication without both must be preauthorised by contacting editor@africa-legal.com
Ethiopian lawyer Tewodros Getachew elected the new President of the Pan African Lawyers Union
During the 15th Pan African Lawyer Union Annual Conference & Triennial General Assembly in Abidjan on Friday, Tewodros Getachew was elected to be the new President of PALU
The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), the union for all African Bar Associations and the premier continental legal forum in the African continent, has announced Ethiopian lawyer Tewodros Getachew Tulu as its new President.
“This milestone marks a new chapter of visionary and transformative leadership for the continent’s premier bar association,” said PALU when revealing the news during the final day of its 15th PALU Annual Conference & Triennial General Assembly. “Getachew brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to justice, and a strong track record of advancing the rule of law and human rights across Africa.”
Among many leadership roles, President Getachew has recently served as PALU’s Vice President for Eastern Africa, as well as currently being the founding President of the Ethiopian Federal Bar Association, the first-ever statutory bar in Ethiopian legal history, mobilising and regulating more than 7000 law firms and federal lawyers.
Getachew is the founder and Managing Partner of leading Ethiopian law firm Tewodros Getachew and Associates, and a former senior prosecutor who dealt with both high profile criminal cases and major civil cases involving huge government owned or partially owned enterprises. He is also an international arbitrator, a legal advisor to the African Union on matters of national & international law, and a Chair, council member, and Board member of several legal and professional bodies.
Originally founded in September 2002 to reflect the aspirations and concerns of the African people and to promote and defend their shared interests, PALU has a significant membership including five regional lawyers’ associations, over 54 national lawyers’ associations, and more than 1,000 individual lawyers.
Getachew will lead the new PALU Executive Committee, taking the baton from Cameroonian lawyer Kari Abdoul-Bagui, who served as President from 2022-2025.
“We extend our sincere congratulations to President Getachew and look forward to his leadership in strengthening legal practice, governance, and access to justice throughout the continent,” said PALU on Friday afternoon.