Arusha, 29 April, 2020: It is with the deepest sorrow that we have learnt of the death of Hon Justice Augustino S.L. Ramadhani, who served as the Judge of the African Court from 2010-2016 and as the President of the Court from 2014-2016.
He will be fondly remembered for his devotion for furthering the ideals and objectives of the African Court.
‘’He was an exemplary leader and unshaken in his pursuit of justice and protection of human rights on our Continent,’’ remarked President Sylvain Oré.
He was consistent and mentored many Judges and Staff. ‘’He foresaw good in everybody… he was like a father, big brother and above all a man of good faith and vision,’’ President Oré added.
The African Court conveys its condolences to the family of the late Ramadhani, people of Tanzania and the entire Judiciary of Tanzania and beyond.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Justice Augustino Ramadhani hailed from the United Republic of Tanzania. He was elected Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2010 for a six year term.
He held a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of East Africa (1970), a Master of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam (1978) in International Law (the law of armed conflict) and a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of London (2004).
Immediately after obtaining his first degree Justice Ramadhani joined the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces. After training in the Tanzania Military Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and reached the rank of Brigadier General when he was voluntarily released in 1996 when Tanzania resumed multiparty democracy.
Prior to being appointed Judge of the African Court, Justice Ramadhani was a Justice of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania from 1989 to 2010 when he retired after attaining the compulsory retirement age of 65 years. In his last three years on the bench, he was the Chief Justice of Tanzania from 2007 to 2010. Justice Ramadhani was also the Chief Justice of Zanzibar from 1980 to 1989. He had served as a Judge of the East African Court of Justice from 2001 to 2007.
From 1993 to 2003 Justice Ramadhani was the Vice Chairman of the National Electoral Commission which conducts presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in the United Republic of Tanzania. He held the same position in the Zanzibar Electoral Commission from 2002 to 2007. He was the Chairman of Executive Council of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Commission Forum in 2006 and 2007.
He has published articles on Human rights, such as ‘Promoting a New Economic Order in Developing Countries: A Role for Human Rights Organizations’, published in Speaking about Rights (Canada Human Rights Foundation Newsletter), Vol. XI No. 3/1996, and ‘Electoral Process in a Multiparty Democracy’, a chapter in the book Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in Tanzania, (Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, 1978).
