OGEMID AfCFTA - Dispute Resolution Symposium (April-May 2025)

Introduction

Leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers examine how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is reshaping Africa's legal, economic, and institutional frameworks for trade, investment, and dispute resolution.

Panels:

1. Beyond Trade - AfCFTA as a Driver for Regional Dispute Resolution: The AfCFTA is often celebrated for its trade liberalization ambitions, but its potential to transform regional dispute resolution mechanisms is equally significant. This panel will explore how AfCFTA's legal architecture fosters institutional integration and reduces fragmentation across the continent.
2. AfCFTA and ISDS - A Shift in Africa's Investment Protection Framework: AfCFTA offers an opportunity to rethink traditional investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms. This panel will critically assess how Africa's emerging investment framework may strike a new balance between investor rights and states' regulatory autonomy.
3. Navigating Overlaps - AfCFTA, African BITs, and the WTO System: The coexistence of AfCFTA commitments, bilateral investment treaties (BITs), and multilateral WTO obligations creates a complex legal landscape. This panel will examine strategies for treaty alignment, conflict management, and coherence across regimes.
4. Balancing State Sovereignty and Investor Protection under AfCFTA: How can African states balance sovereign regulatory powers with the demands of investor protection under AfCFTA? This final panel will reflect on evolving models of dispute resolution and Africa's positioning in the global investment landscape.

OGEMID AfCFTA - Dispute Resolution Symposium (April-May 2025) is part of the TDM 2 (2025) - The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) (Volume 3) and is available here www.transnational-dispute-management.com/article.asp?key=3114 (sign in to download).