Casablanca Hosts an African Judicial Conference Under the Motto: “For an Independent African Judiciary”
The economic capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, Casablanca, began hosting the proceedings of the African Judges’ Association Conference on April 21, 2025, under the theme: “For an Independent African Judiciary.” The event saw the participation of high-ranking judicial delegations from various African and European countries, alongside prominent national figures from the judiciary and professional judges’ associations.
The Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and Head of the Public Prosecution opened the conference with a speech expressing his pride in Morocco hosting this significant African event. He commended the efforts made by the Hassan II Judicial Association in partnership with the International Association of Judges, under the esteemed patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him.
The speaker highlighted the importance of this meeting as a space for professional interaction and legal dialogue among judges from the African continent. He emphasized that the conference represents a new cornerstone in the journey toward establishing an independent African judiciary, capable of keeping pace with major transformations and addressing multiple challenges, chief among them transnational crime in all its forms, including terrorism, cybercrime, and environmental crime.
The Attorney General shed light on Morocco’s experience in judicial reform, recalling the major initiatives launched since the enactment of the 2011 Constitution, which solidified the independence of the judiciary as a foundation for building a state governed by law and achieving sustainable development. He cited the address of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to participants at the first international justice conference in 2018, which stressed the need to enhance confidence in the judiciary as a fundamental pillar of the rule of law.
The Head of the Public Prosecution called for expanding avenues of cooperation among African countries in the judicial field and praised the pivotal role of professional judges’ associations in framing judicial work, promoting the principles of integrity and transparency, and ensuring judges’ right to express themselves within the bounds of discretion and independence.
Mr. Dakhi also disclosed that the Public Prosecution Office has adopted a parallel judicial diplomacy approach in its relations with its counterparts in African countries, which has led to the signing of memorandums of understanding and the organization of scientific meetings, notably the seventeenth conference of the African General Prosecutors Association held in Rabat in July 2024, during which Morocco was elected as the Secretary-General of the Association and designated as the permanent headquarters for its Secretariat.
The Attorney General concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of enhancing judicial exchange between African nations, expressing hope that the proceedings of this conference would result in practical recommendations and proposals that contribute to improving the performance of justice and fulfill the aspirations of the African peoples for an independent, fair, and effective judiciary.
The conference will continue until April 24, featuring a series of sessions and scientific workshops that will address fundamental issues related to judicial independence, its role in development, and ways to facilitate access to justice, as well as challenges associated with the digital age and societal transformations.
