
2023 Annual Conference
We are pleased to announce that the 12th Annual Conference of the Society will take place on 27-28 October 2023, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the theme: “Africa and the Governance of Global Commons.” It will be chaired by Dr. Guy-Fleury Ntwari, Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission. The Global Commons comprise the areas and resources that are beyond state sovereignty and are theoretically available for the benefit of all. Their use is considered rivalrous because one group’s use of the Commons could affect another group’s use of the same. The Global Commons have traditionally included the high seas, the atmosphere, outer space, and the polar regions. But now that we are firmly within the Anthropocene – the era in which humans are changing the Earth such that its very integrity is at risk – many include the Earth itself, along with the natural systems on Earth that we all depend on for our existence, among the Global Commons.
2022 Annual Conference
The African Society of International Law (AfSIL) is pleased to announce that the 11th Annual Conference of the Society will take place on 28-29 October 2022, in Cairo, Egypt on the theme: “Africa and the Challenge of Climate Change.” Taking place a week before the onset of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 27 in Egypt, the Conference will be a unique opportunity to explore the climate change crisis through the lens of international law.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”), Africa is among those that have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, yet key development sectors have already experienced widespread losses and damages attributable to climate change, including biodiversity loss, water shortages, reduced food production, loss of lives and reduced economic growth. Despite these challenges, UNDP experts say Africa has the potential to move the world toward a secure climate-resilient future since it has the youngest population, the largest amount of arable land and the greatest potential for restoration. Indeed, important efforts at developing renewable energy and restoring lands and ecosystems are underway on the continent. Both the impacts and the solutions related to climate change touch upon virtually every aspect of international law.
The Conference aims to bring together prominent academics, policymakers, practitioners, and experts to explore the issue of climate change as it relates to various fields of international law with the goal of understanding both the magnitude of the challenges and the opportunities we must seize before it is too late.
The Conference will be held in the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt and also virtually, via Zoom. It will be co-hosted by the leading Cairo law firm Zulficar & Partners.
Speakers
Friday, 28 october 2022
9.30-10.00 am - opening Ceremony
Professor, University of Geneva, Sciences Po
Former Judge, International Court of Justice
Chair: Ms. TAFADZWA PASIPANODYA, Partner, Foley Hoag LLP, Vice-President of AfSIL
H.E. Raymond Ranjeva
Honorary President of AfSIL, Former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice
Prof. NILUFER ORAL
Director, Center for International Law, National University of Singapore & Member, United Nations International Law Commission
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Professor, Cairo University & Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners, Chair of the 11th Annual Conference of AfSIL
Dr. rania al mashat
Minister of International Cooperation, Arab Republic of Egypt
Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote
Director, Law Division United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Counselor Hossam Sadek
Assistant Minister of Justice, Arab Republic of Egypt
10.00-10.40am – Keynote Speech by Prof. Makane Moïse Mbengue, university of Geneva & Sciences Po Paris, President of AfSIL: Africa’s Contribution to the Climate Change Regime: Back to the Future…
Chair: AMBASSDOR DR. NAMIRA NEGM, Director of the African Migration Observatory
11.00-12.15pm – Panel I: African Perspectives to Climate Change Legal and Institutional Governance
Chair: DR. GUY-FLEURY NTWARI, Legal Counsel, African Union Commission
DR. JASMINA MOUSSA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arab Republic of Egypt
DR. Pedi Obani
Associate professor, University of Bradford School of Law, Transnational Litigation and Prospects for Climate Action in Developing Countries
PROF. Jean Matringe
Professeur, Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, Appréciation critique de « l’approche par les droits » du changement climatique dans le contexte africain
Halima Doma-Kutigi
Partner, Kutigi & Co, Climate Litigation in Nigeria: Gains, Challenges, and Opportunities
Alkarakpey MEyssouun
Doctorante, Centre de droit public de l’universite de Lomé, L’Afrique dans la Gouvernance climatique mondiale : les enjeux de la mise en œuvre de l’Accord de Paris pour le Continent Africain
1.15-2.30pm – Panel II: Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the African Context
Chair: MS. INES NDONKO NNOKO, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva, Commissioner of AfSIL
Francesco Luigi Gatta
Post-doctoral Research and Lecturer, University of Tuscia, Climate Change, Food Security and Migration: What Role for the Cooperation between the European Union and the African Union?
Stephanie Naa Oserwa Schandorf
Associate Director, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute, Ocean Resilience, Climate Change and the African Dilemma
Ahmed ABDEL-HAKAM
Counsel, Eversheds Sutherland LLP, African States Mitigating legal/disputes risk in formulating Renewable Energy Policies: Lessons Learned from Solar Energy Claims Brought Against European States
Iga Jozefiak
PhD Candidate, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Strengthening the Science-Policy Nexus: Lessons for Africa
2.35-3.50pm – Panel III: Climate Change, Trade and the AfCFTA
Chair: Prof. Dr. MOHAMED ABDEL WAHAB, Professor, Cairo University & Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners, Chair of the 11th Annual Conference of AfSIL
Uchenna Anyamele
Legal Consultant, Hakakire Legal Consulting Services/Unicaf University, Tackling Climate Change under the African Continental Free Trade Area
Kiai Lusweti Gachanja
Trainee Lawyer, Dentons Hamilton Harrison and Mathews, The AfCFTA: Challenges and Opportunities for MFN, National Treatment and Technical Barriers to Trade in the context of Climate Change Mitigation
MODESTA NSOWAA-ADU
LL.M. & DAS candidate, University of Bern, Reconciling Trade and Climate: How can the AfCFTA help Address Climate Change in Africa
MAWUTO TOSSA
Editor & West Africa Regional Representative, Afronomicslaw Academic Forum, Concilier Attraction des Investissements et Action pour le Climat: la Contribution des Organisations Régionales Africaines
4.20-5.50pm – Panel Iv: Climate Change and International Investment Law
Chair: TAREK BADAWY, Partner, Shahid Law Firm
LUCIA BIZIKOVA
Associate, DLA Piper, A roadmap for Africa: Reconciling climate change policies and investment law obligations
Isabella Bellera Landa
Associate, White & Case LLP, Decarbonization in Africa and International Investment Law: Challenges and Opportunities
Justice Osei-Afriyie
Ph.D. candidate, University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice, Investment Law Policy Reforms of African States in the Age of Climate Governance: A Paradigm Shift or The Changing Guard?
Rimdolmsom Jonathan Kabre
Academic Director, University of Pretoria, Climate Change and/in the Settlement of Investment Disputes: The Impossible Convergence?
6.00-6.30 pm – AfSIL Members Meeting
Introduction to AFSIL’s Interest Groups
7pm - Cocktail Reception sponsored by shahid law firm
Dr. Guy-Fleury Ntwari
Legal Counsel, African Union Commission
Saturday, 29 october 2022
10.30-11.45am – Panel V: Climate Change, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Security
Chair: PROF. MOHAMED SAMEH AMR, Professor and Chair of International Law, Cairo University and Founding Partner of Amr and Partners Law Firm
Margareta WeWErinke
Assistant Professor, University of Leiden, The Quest for an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Climate Change
Emmanuel Guematcha
Maître de conférences, Université de Guyane, Changement climatique et justice transitionnelle en Afrique
Pieter Van Welzen
Senior Consultant, CMS South Africa, The Role of Financial Institutions under International Law to Address Climate Change
Hala Ahmed Rashidy
Associate professor, University of Cairo, A Dialectic Relationship: How do Environmental Challenges Affect Human Security? Climate Change and Armed Conflict Nexus in Africa as a Case Study
Aubin Nzaou-Kongo
EENR Distinguished Fellow in Energy Law and Policy (at the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources (EENR) Center) at the University of Houston Law Center
11.50am-1.00pm – Panel vI: Climate Change and Human and Peoples’ Rights
Chair: PROF. MOHAMED S. HELAL, Associate Professor of Law at the Michael E. Moritz College of Law, the Ohio State University
Olalekan Moyosore Lalude
Ph.D candidate, Babcock University School of Law and Security Studies, Crystal Clear Our Waters Gleamed: Protecting the Right to a Safe and Healthy Environment in Africa
Yusra Suedi
Postdoctoral fellow, London School of Economics & Political Science, Admissibility Challenges in Climate Change Litigation before the African System of Human Rights
Bonheur Minzoto
Ph.D. candidate, University of Manchester, In Search for Sustainable Business Transformation in Africa. The turn to directors’ duties and liability in OHADA?
Mariam Hiba Malik
Researcher, Pretoria Institute of Security Studies, The Climate-Crisis-Gender-Based Violence Nexus: An Opportunity for Artificial Intelligence?
1.15-2.00pm – Lunch Keynote Speech & Conversation Sponsored by Foley Hoag LLP. Ambassador FAIZEL ISMAEL, former Permanent Representative of South Africa to the WTo & professor, university of cape town: Towards an African Narrative on Climate Change and Trade: How can African countries advance Climate Resilient Development at a National, Regional and Global level?
Chair: MR. KARIM M’ZIANI, Associate, Foley Hoag LLP, Deputy Secretary General of AfSIL
2.05-3.05pm – roundtable in Partnership with ASIL 2022 Signature Topic and the Geneva Experts Group on Trade and Climate Action: CoP27 and Beyond: Strengthening Cooperation for Climate Action
Chair: PROF. OLABISI AKINKUGBE, Professor, Dalhousie University, Founding Editor, Afronomicslaw
DR. ELENA CIMA
Lecturer in International Energy and Environmental Law, University of Geneva
NICOLAS LOCKHART
Partner, Sidley Austin
PROF MAKANE MOiSE MBENGUE
Professor, University of Geneva
& Sciences Po Paris
CAROLYN DEERE BIRKBECK
Director, Forum on Trade, Environment, the SDGs
3.10-4.10pm – Business Perspective on Renewable Energy Transition in Africa: Challenges and opportunities
Chair: MS. MONA ZULFICAR, Founding Partner & Chair of Executive Committee, Zulficar & Partners Law Firm
Dr. mohamed el-khayat
Chairman, New Renewable Energy Authority (NREA)
Mr. Chris Antonopoulos
CEO, Lekela Advisors
Eng. SABAH MASHALY
Chairperson and Managing Director, Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC)
MS. REHAM ELBELTAGY
Group CFO, Orascom Construction
Mr. Mohamed mansour
Chairman, Infinity Group
4.15-4.30PM - Closing Ceremony
Chair: MS. ISABELLE ROUCHE, Partner, Asafo & Co, Secretary General of AfSIL
Ambassador Dr. Namira Negm
Director of the African Union Observatory for Migration
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Professor, Cairo University & Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners, Chair of the 11th Annual Conference of AfSIL
prof. Makane Moise Mbengue
Professor, University of Geneva & Sciences Po Paris, President of AfSIL
Thanks to our Sponsors
2015
The Contribution of Regional Courts to the Development of International Law
2014
International Criminal Law
2013
Disputes Resolution in International Law
2012
Creation of State in International Law

Publications
The Society has had an annual conference every year over the past ten years. Each conference has led to the development of a publication of some of the papers presented at the annual conference. These include:
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African and the Challenge of Climate Change, Edit by Inès Nnoko Ndonko (publication expected end of 2024).
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Africa and International Trade Law, Edited by Karim M’ziani (publication expected end of 2023). Call for Paper
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Africa and International Environmental Law, Edited by Isabelle Rouche, Pedone (publication expected 2022)
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Africa, Regional Tribunal and Development of International Law, Pedone (2019)