Arbitration

Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and particularly arbitration, have seen a growing interest across Africa. This development is situated within a historical context where African states were often sidelined in the global legal landscape. For years, their normative and judicial powers were considered insufficient to meet the demands of international commerce, compounded by perceptions of widespread corruption.

However, the landscape is shifting. As efforts to combat corruption intensify across the continent, arbitration—especially in the context of investment disputes—is undergoing a profound transformation. This shift reflects Africa’s growing engagement with and appropriation of international dispute resolution mechanisms.

Indeed, arbitration has become a cornerstone for the resolution of cross-border business conflicts, offering a neutral and efficient platform for resolving disputes between foreign investors and African states. In this sense, Africa is not just a recipient of external arbitration models but is actively shaping and adapting these practices to its own legal and economic contexts.

This ongoing evolution signals a broader shift in Africa’s legal landscape, one where the continent is progressively asserting its voice in the global arbitration community, with an eye toward both enhancing its own legal frameworks and attracting more international investment.

My contributions on this topic:

➢ “Dans l’affaire Global Voice, les juges baissent-il la voix face aux allégations de corruption ?  Commentaire de l’arrêt de la Cour de cassation du 19 juin 2024 dans l’affaire Global Voice Group c. République de Guinée”, B-Arbitra, Belgian Review of Arbitration, 2025, n°1, pp.138-161

➢ “Malgré les feux de la critique, la Cour de cassation confirme sa position sur l’accueil des allégations de corruption soulevées pour la première fois devant les juges de l’annulation… et il faut s’en réjouir ! – Commentaire de l’arrêt de la Cour de cassation du 7 septembre 2022 dans l’affaire Libye c. Sorelec”, B-Arbitra, Belgian Review of Arbitration, 2023, n°1, pp.108-124

➢ “Quand les juges de l’annulation prennent le relai des arbitres dans la lutte contre la corruption – Commentaire de l’arrêt de la Cour d’appel de Paris du 17 novembre 2020 dans l’affaire Libye c. Sorelec”, B-Arbitra, Belgian Review of Arbitration, 2021, n°1, pp.177-188, with Maude Lebois

➢ “Retour sur l’exequatur des sentences CIRDI”, Un demi-siècle africain d’arbitrage d’investissement CIRDI – Regards rétrospectifs et prospectifs, LGDJ/EJA, 2019, pp.325-333, with Khaled Houda