Addis Ababa, 27-31 July 2026: The COMESA Court of Justice (CCJ) held its Forty-First Administrative Meeting from 28 to 29 July 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the first Administrative Meeting of the new Bench of Judges appointed on 05 May 2026. 

In line with its objective of enhancing visibility, communication and stakeholder engagement, Honourable Judges and Registry Staff paid a courtesy call to the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia on 29 July 2026, where they were received by the President of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia and Chief justice of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia Honourable Tewodros Meheret.  

The Chief Justice welcomed the CCJ Judges and staff and pledged cooperation between the two courts in divers areas, including benchmarking in the use of modern information technology. He reiterated the importance of the use of artificial intelligence in courts, noting that, having adopted the smart court system, the Supreme Court is using AI Assistance Transcription, which eases translation from one language to another during court hearings. He proposed that a Memorandum of Understanding be signed to straighten the partnership between the two Institutions.  

The Judge President of the CCJ, Honourable Sitwala Mwanamwambwa, expressed the warm reception extended not only by the Supreme Court but by Ethiopia and its people. He highlighted the CCJ’s jurisdiction and its mandate and its role in regional integration.  Emphasising on collaborating and sharing of knowledge, the Judge President requested the CCJ Registry and the administration in the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia to develop an MoU so that the two courts work together and benefit from each other. 

On 30 July 2026, the Court also held sessions in three matters: Application No. 1 of 2025, Appeal No. 2 of 2025 and Arbitration Cause No. 2 of 2025. The sessions formed the judicial and arbitral component of the Court’s programme in Addis Ababa. 

On 31 July 2026, the Court met the executive management of the Ethiopian Bar Association including Counsel Tesfaye and Counsel Dawit Kidae, respectively the    President and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Ethiopian Bar association, to explore cooperation with the country’s legal profession and to widen access to justice across the COMESA region. The engagements gave effect to the Court’s Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which identifies enhanced visibility, communication and stakeholder engagement as one of its five strategic priorities. 

Both the Federal Supreme Court and the Ethiopian Bar Association undertook to have the MoUs prepared and signed with the CCJ in the very near future. 

Beyond the official programme, the Judges and members of staff met Ethiopian long-distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie and toured the National Palace, the principal residence of Emperor Haile Selassie. 

The Addis Ababa activities mark the start of the new Bench’s tenure in advancing the rule of law and regional integration under the COMESA Treaty