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Africa Focus: UN, AU inaugurate African Institute of International Law in Tanzania

Xinhua, February 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations and African Union on Monday inaugurated the long awaited African Institute of International Law (AIIL) in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha.

"We received the establishment of the African Institute of International Law with great enthusiasm, given the understanding that this is another important window for the development of the African continent," Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahadhi Juma Maalim said when speaking at the inauguration ceremony here.

"It is on this premise that our government supported its establishment at the Executive Council of the African Union to finally have it endorsed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union," he said.

He said Tanzania was also delighted by the move of the United Nations General Assembly, welcoming the creation of the institute and encouraging the UN Secretariat to cooperate with the Institute through the Codification Division of its Office of Legal Affairs.

"In this millennium, international law, the law of the African Union and other regional organizations are to be understood and used for the development of African countries," Maalim said.

Citing one of the challenges facing Africa, he said one of the challenges is to develop the capacity to sustain growth at the required levels in order to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.

"To this end," the official said, "Africa must build strong human capital and institutions that are capable of sustaining development and foster the rule of law in our respective countries. "

He noted that after decades of political, social and economic difficulties, the African continent is experiencing a period of relative peace and economic growth.

However, he said a deficit of capacity at all levels undermines the continent's ability to sustain and maintain these positive trends.

Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf, the founder of AIIL, said the institute will play a key role in the continent in creating deeper appreciation and understanding of international law.

"AIIL will enhance Africans' knowledge and expertise in international law so that we reduce our dependant on external experts in our own matters. There is no doubt that the African Institute of International Law will play a big role to provide Africa with well trained human resources," he said, commending Tanzania's government for being the host of the institute.

Justice Augustino Ramadhani, President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, backed the establishment of the institute because of its critical importance for strengthening the rule of law and promoting economic and political integration among African states.

AU Commission formally proposed its establishment in January 2012 and a year later in its Resolution 67/91 of January 14, 2013, the General Assembly of the UN took note of the establishment of the AIIL and encouraged the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs to cooperate with the institute in the implementation of the relevant activities under the Programme of Assistance.

The AIIL headquarters is located at the Arusha International Conference Centre where the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was located. Endi