Luanda: The 2nd National Congress of Angola's Judicial Magistrates is being held from September 4 to 5 in Lubango, Hula Province. The focus of the congress is to assess entry criteria and training for the Judicial Magistracy, evaluate the profile of the contemporary judge, and review the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the event is organized by the Association of Judges of Angola (AJA) and is expected to gather 300 participants, including national and international judicial magistrates, prosecutors, lawyers, and other stakeholders in the justice administration. Yuri Dias da Cunha, the AJA Vice-President for Information, Scientific Research, and Publication of Legal and Judicial Literature, highlighted the participation of legal experts from the Southern African Development Community and the International Union of Portuguese-Speaking Judges.
Dias da Cunha expressed concern over the absence of public competitions in recruitment processes within the sector. He emphasized that individuals have been admitted to the Judicial Magistracy without public competition until August 2025, with some recruitment occurring in Portugal and Brazil. This practice contradicts Angolan law, which mandates a public competitive process for entry into the judicial system. The AJA has condemned these recruitments and filed complaints with the Superior Council of the Judicial Magistracy.
The congress, under the theme 'Ethical, Cohesive and Independent Judiciary', aims to present conclusions, resolutions, recommendations, and proposals to enhance Angola's justice administration. Judicial magistrates intend to prioritize citizens' rights and explore ways to make courts more efficient, accessible, and closer to the public.
Dias da Cunha also pointed out that technological advancements should be incorporated into the justice system. He argued for remote access to court information, similar to banking services, allowing citizens to access case details via mobile phones without visiting courts. He cited a lack of political will as a barrier and called for modernization within the justice system, emphasizing the absence of basic processes like email exchanges with courts.
The congress is chaired by Norberto Sodr© Joo, President of the Superior Council of the Judicial Magistracy and the Supreme Court. The inaugural congress was held in 2022 in Huambo.
