The evidence shows that in most cases, and even where international arbitration disputes involve African parties, the seats for the international arbitration are likely to be London, Paris, New York or sometimes in Singapore with these cases being subject to either the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) or the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Is there the need for African countries to consider strengthening their national legal systems and mechanisms for commercial dispute resolution for purposes international arbitration at least when the parties are all African?

The session will explore the feasibility of strengthening these national rules for commercial dispute resolution or consider the establishment of a regional hub with the necessary international standards and and credibility to absorb some of the disputes in the future.