Seychelles Hosts 16 Chief Justices for Regional Justice Innovation Forum
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Seychelles is welcoming 16 chief justices from across Southern and Eastern Africa this week for a landmark forum on innovation and technology in justice delivery, convened at the Savoy Resort in Beau Vallon for the Chandler Judicial Forum. The regional justice innovation forum follows yesterday’s opening ceremony and executive committee meeting for judicial administrators, organised in partnership with the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum and the Singapore Judicial College.
The two-day event focuses on equipping the region’s top judges with strategies to modernise courts amid rising caseloads and growing public demand for faster, more accessible justice. Under the theme ‘Judicial Leadership and Innovation’, discussions range from advanced e-filing systems and virtual hearings to early-stage digitisation. The accompanying Judicial Administrators Forum includes a visit to the Seychelles Supreme Court to observe local innovations.
Dr Pius Bigirimana, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary of Uganda, explained the forum’s main objective is to compare notes and discuss matters that affect judiciaries in the Southern African region. He highlighted persistent case backlogs and outlined initiatives such as electronic automation, which allows litigants to pay fees, schedule hearings, and track cases online, as well as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Registrar of the Supreme Court Juliana Esticot showcased Seychelles’ adoption of speech-to-text systems, which automatically transcribe court recordings for faster case documentation. She acknowledged that larger criminal cases still face delays due to limited judicial capacity, noting the volume of cases means the number of judges and magistrates remains insufficient despite their best efforts.
The forum also serves as preparation for the SEACJF annual general meeting, scheduled to take place in Zanzibar this October. Delegates will continue site visits in Seychelles to explore innovations that could be replicated across the region, strengthening judicial cooperation in Southern and Eastern Africa.
Seychelles’ hosting of 16 chief justices reinforces its role as a centre for judicial innovation in Africa.
