The newly elected president of the Mozambican Bar Association (OAM), Thera Dai, takes office today, becoming the first woman to lead the institution in its 32-year history.
According to an official statement from the OAM, the inauguration ceremony will take place at the Mozambique-China Cultural Center in the nation’s capital, Maputo.
“It is time to renew our commitment to defending the Rule of Law, justice, democracy, and fundamental freedoms, reaffirming that above the natural differences of a democratic electoral process, our common mission to serve the legal profession and Mozambican society prevails,” the association stated, calling for broad participation from its members.
Thera Tobias Dai, who will lead the OAM for the 2026–2029 triennium, won the election in April, succeeding Carlos Martins in the role.
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Holding a law degree from the Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologias de Moçambique, Thera Dai is a senior attorney with over 17 years of professional experience. Her primary areas of practice include corporate law, investment, foreign exchange control, natural resources, public law, and real estate.
Within the OAM, she has built an active institutional track record, regularly participating in debates and initiatives focused on promoting the legal profession, protecting professional privileges, and strengthening the rule of law across the country. Dai has been a practicing lawyer since 2009 and a registered member of the OAM since 2011. She takes charge of an organization that currently registers 3,373 active attorneys, comprising 2,204 men and 1,169 women.
In an interview with Lusa in May, Dai characterized the human rights situation in Mozambique as “still critical and concerning,” calling for more effective action from the judicial branch to ensure accountability.
“Judging by the episodes we have witnessed in recent years, the human rights situation in Mozambique is still critical,” she noted. “However, it is vital that we secure effective action from administrative and judicial bodies to guarantee human rights protection and proper accountability.”
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She also advocated for the institution to take a firm stance in protecting its members. Beginning this year, Mozambique will mark October 19 as the Day to Combat Violence Against Lawyers. The annual observance honors Elvino Dias, a prominent lawyer who was killed on that date in 2024 during the country’s highly contested electoral process.
