The Dispute Resolution Interest Group and the Africa Interest Group of the American Society of International Law co-sponsored a daylong conference on March 11 on “The Future of International Arbitration in Africa.”  The conference was also co-sponsored by Penn State and Greenberg Traurig, and it was hosted by the Washington office of Greenberg Traurig.  Video of the conference is available at https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/news/experts-around-world-discuss-international-arbitration-africa-penn-state-law-event.  

The conference included a panel discussion about Foreign Investment and Investment Arbitration in Africa. I moderated the panel, made introductory remarks about "Investor-State Arbitration in Sub-Saharan Africa" (starting at 0:00:01), and spoke about "Transnational Governance: The Zimbabwe Farm Cases" (starting at 1:07:20). The panel also included remarks by Deborah Brautigam about Chinese investment in Africa, Uché Ewelukwa about arbitration of disputes concerning Chinese investment in Africa, and Alexandra Meise about political trends concerning investment arbitration in Africa. Video of the panel is available at: http://mediasite.dsl.psu.edu/Mediasite/Play/1214820d03fa45f786118e389248fb981d.

You may need to add Silverlight to watch the videos and to check its compatibility with your browser. You can download Silverlight here -- https://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/Get-Started/Install/Default.aspx -- and check compatibility under "System Requirements."

Videos are also available for the three other panel discussions and the keynote address by Edward W. Fasholé-Luke II, an international arbitrator from Botswana, who provided an overview of international arbitration from the perspective of an Africa-based arbitrator. The conference also featured panel discussions on:

The Legacy of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission

The Institutions and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration in Africa

Structural Challenges for Dispute Resolution in Africa: Culture, Diversity, and Development

In addition to Luke, the list of speakers, panelists, and moderators included:

Amaka Megwalu Anku, Dilikam Advisors, LLC

David A. Baron, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Perry Bechky, International Trade & Investment Law PLLC; Co-Chair ASIL Dispute Resolution Interest Group

Deborah Brautigam, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies

John Crook, George Washington University Law School

Joseph M. DeThomas, Penn State School of International Affairs

Amina Dzano, Penn State International Law Group

Uché Ewelukwa, University of Arkansas School of Law

Chiara Giorgetti, University of Richmond School of Law

Aurélie Huet, Huet Law International

Jude Kearney, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Jackson Kern, Addis Law Group

Won Kidane, Seattle University Law School; Addis Law Group

Alexandra A.K. Meise, Foley Hoag LLP

Sean D. Murphy, George Washington University Law School; UN International Law Commission

Kenneth K. Mwenda, American University Washington College of Law

Reta Alemu Nega, Ethiopian Embassy

Tolu Obamuroh, Lagos Court of Arbitration; Penn State Law S.J.D. Candidate

Catherine Rogers, Penn State Law

Thomas R. Snider, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Leyou Tameru, I-Arb Africa

Curtis B. Toll, Greenberg Traurig LLP; Penn State Law Board of Advisers