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.
Speakers
Friday, 27 october 2023 (African union Commission Headquarters)
9.00-09.30 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
Prof. Makane MoIse Mbengue,
University of Geneva & Sciences Po Paris, President of AfSIL
Amb. Youssouf Mandoha Assoumani
Ambassador of the Union of Comoros to Ethiopia & Chair of the AU Permanent Representatives' Committee for 2023 (Invited)
Mr. Mohamed Salem Boukhari Khalil
Acting Legal Counsel & Senior Legal Officer, African Union Commission
H.E. Gedion Timothewos
Minister of Justice of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Government of Ethiopia
9.30-10.15 am – Keynote Speech/Conversation
Chair: Prof. Phoebe Okowa, Professor of Public International Law, Queen Mary University of London
Discussant: Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Professor of International Law, University of Geneva & The College de France (2022-2023)
10.15-10.45 am – Photo Ceremony and Coffee Break
10.45 am-12.00 pm – Panel I: International Law-Making concerning the Global Commons
Chair: Prof. Edwin Egede, Professor of International Law & International Relations, Cardiff University
Nancy Kgengwenyane
Consultant, Global Commons - an African Legal Standing on Benefits in Participation in Governance of the Biodiversity Commons
Teddy Tabu Odira
Researcher, University of Nairobi : Decolonizing AI Governance: Africa's Path to International Law-Making in the Era of the Global Commons
Etienne Marque,
Lecturer, Université Paris Nanterre : Ubuntu ou une approche africaine de la gouvernance des biens communs
Miracle Okoth Mudeyi
Researcher, University of Nairobi : Decolonizing AI Governance: Africa's Path to International Law-Making in the Era of the Global Commons
12.00-1.15 pm – Lunch Fireside Chat - Africa’s Carbon Markets: Financial Innovation for the Conservation of the Global Commons
Chair: Dr. Elena Cima, Lecturer in International Energy and Environmental Law, University of Geneva
Antonny Mukulu Nshimye
Chief Legal Officer, Kigali International Finance Centre
Yuejia Peng
Associate Director of Research, Nature and Biodiversity Lead, Environmental Markets Analytics, S&P Commodity Insights
1.15-2.30 pm – Panel II: International Economic Systems, Trade, & the Global Commons
Chair: Mr. Mezmur Yared, Deputy Attorney General, Ethiopia
Dr. Leonila Guglya
Counsel, Swiss Legal Rouiller et Associés: Africa’s Part in the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Deal: the Use of the Negotiations Theories for Ensuring More Effective Engagement in the Global Commons Governance
Jackson Shaw Kern
Partner, ALG LLP: Enforcing Investors’ Environmental Obligations Under the Investment Protocol to the African Continental Free Trade Area
Joel Matonga
Senior Legal Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malawi: An analysis of the Primacy of Consensus Decision-Making in the BBNJ Agreement: A case study of the regime of the Access and Benefits Sharing of MGRs in ABNJ
Mohit Khubchandani
Lawyer, WilmerHale LLP, London: Enforcing Investors’ Environmental Obligations Under the Investment Protocol to the African Continental Free Trade Area
Nicholas Renzler
Counsel, Foley Hoag LLP: Opportunities and Obligations in the Management of Economic Activity Occurring in the Global Commons
2.30-2.45 pm – Coffee Break
2.45-4.15 pm Panel III: Pursuit of International Justice concerning the Global Commons
Chair: Prof. Christian Tams, Professor of International Law at the University of Glasgow
Dr. Harrison Otieno Mbori
Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute Luxembourg: Anticipating the ITLOS advisory Opinion: The continuing Experiments in International Judicialization of Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Dr Alberto Pecoraro
Lecturer, University of Hull: National Courts and Disputes over Deep Seabed Minerals in the Area
Vonintsoa Rafaly
Postdoctoral researcher, University of Copenhagen: Africa, Climate Change and the Ocean: Seeking Justice at the Time of Global Challenges
4.15-4.45 pm – AfSIL Interest Groups Meeting
Chair: John Nyanje, University of Bayreuth in Germany and the Leibniz University in Hannover
Discussants: Ahmed Abdel Hakam, Partner, Volterra Fietta, AfSIL's Dispute Resolution IG Co-Chair
Mezmur Yared, Deputy Attorney General, Ethiopia, AfSIL's Environment IG Co-Chair
6.00 pm: Cocktail Reception & International Law Award (Hyatt Hotel)
Chair: Ms. Tafadzwa Pasipanodya, Partner, Foley Hoag LLP, Vice-President of AfSIL
Speaker: Prof. Edwin Egede, Professor of International Law & International Relations, Cardiff University
Saturday, 28 october 2023 (Hyatt Hotel)
9.00 am-10.30 am – Panel Iv : Rights and Sustainable Development concerning the Global Commons
Chair: Inès Ndonko Nnoko, Public International Law & International Organizations Department, University of Geneva
Francesco Luigi Gatta
Research Fellow, Université Catholique de Louvain: International Justice and ‘Green’ Human Rights: Challenges and Way Ahead
Yannick Kouassi
PhD candidate, University of Strasbourg: From Mbembe to John Locke: A Case for the Universalization of the African Philosophy of the Commons
Elodie Duhamel
Ph.D Candidate, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne: Garantir l’intégrité des biens communs globaux par une meilleure protection internationale des communs fonciers
Douglas Musebenzi
Lecturer, Herbert Chitepo Law School: International economic systems and Global Commons: A Critical examination of Africa’s utilization of High Seas and Outer Space in sustainable economic development
Kanyiri Kariuki
Advocate of the High Court of Kenya: The Faustian Pact of Carbon Trading: a legal-political analysis in Kenya through “Capitalism as Civilization”
10.30-10.45 am – Coffee Break
10.45-12.15 pm – Panel v : In-depth Analysis concerning Specific Global Commons
Chair: Mr. Eran Sthoeger, Attorney and consultant in international law; Adjunct Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Carlos A. Cruz Carrillo
PhD researcher, University of Basel: An appraisal of the ‘due regard’ obligation under the law of the sea: towards a more transparent and inclusive use of the high seas?
angeles jimenez cargia-CARRIAZO
Ramon & Cajal Research Fellow at University of Cadiz: Invoking Global Commons Against Exaggerated Extensions of The Continental Shelf: Is That a Feasible Solution ?
Mukulu Kioko
Policy Manager- SKA Observatory: Moving with the times: A Case for clearer legal and regulatory framework for the Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies
Marie Muhadia Shabaya
Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Human-Centred Global Economy, The Digital Economist: Fostering African Data Commons: Embracing the Philosophy of Ubuntu
12.15-1.15 pm – Lunch Break
1.15-1.45 pm – Closing Ceremony & Best Paper Award
Chair: Mr. Karim M’ziani, Associate, Foley Hoag LLP, Deputy Secretary General of AfSIL
Prof. Makane Moïse Mbengue
University of Geneva & Sciences Po Paris, President of AfSIL
Mr. Mohamed Salem Boukhari Khalil,
Acting Legal Counsel & Senior Legal Officer, African Union Commission
4.00 PM - Post-Conference Event - Early Career Meet-Up Weg Coffee Shop, Bisrate Gebriel Square Addis
Weg Coffee Shop, Bisrate Gebriel Square Addis
Convener: John Nyanje, University of Bayreuth in Germany and the Leibniz University in Hannover
Speaker : Dr. Harrison Otieno, Researcher, Max Planck Institute Luxembourg
Thanks to our Sponsors
Previous Events
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)
