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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 the 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.

2023-annual-conference
2021 Annual Conference

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

ChairPROF. 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

ChairPROF. 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

ChairPROF. 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

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Thanks to our Sponsors

Previous Events

Previous Events

2022

AFRICA AND THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

2021

International Trade Law 

2020

COVID-19, International Law

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

2019

International Environmental Law

2018

Law of the Sea

2017

Natural Resources

2016

Foreign Investment and International Investment Law
Publications
5. Publications.jpg

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:

Our activities

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