Statement of ABA President Re: The shooting of the president of the Tanganyika Law Society

The American Bar Association is deeply disturbed by reports that the president of the Tanganyika Law Society, Mr. Tundu Lissu, was shot yesterday by unknown gunmen outside his home in Dodoma, Tanzania. The shooting comes only days after an apparent bombing at the offices of a law firm, IMMMA Advocates, in Dar es Salaam. The ABA has previously expressed concern about apparent threats to the independence of the legal profession in Tanzania, including attempts to dismantle the Tanganyika Law Society.

These attacks are a serious threat to the rule of law and an assault on the legal profession in Tanzania. The ABA strongly urges the government of Tanzania to undertake a full, thorough and impartial investigation into these incidents and bring those responsible to justice.

(Media contact: Matt.Cimento@americanbar.org)