This year, the African Union was the host of the 6^th East Africa International Arbitration Conference: Re-focusing Regional Trade, Energy and Arbitration held on 30-31 August 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Started 6 years ago, the EAIAC conferences are missioned to promote improvement of international arbitration and investment laws in East Africa, support harmonisation of regional arbitration centres, create awareness of arbitration, build international arbitration capacity, knowhow and network in East Africa and beyond. Organized in partnership with Envatage Law, I-ARB and GBS Africa, this year’s conference focused on possibilities of regional trade integration building on the recent signing of the Africa Continental Free trade agreement by a majority of the African Union member states. Other topics tackled East Africa’s energy & infrastructure projects and key issues in international arbitration including state-investor arbitration and artificial intelligence in international arbitration.

Dr. Selim was the moderator at the Panel Discussion: “African Arbitration Centres –Exploring Synergy Building Capacity & Profile”. Discussions focused on the increasing importance of African centers and their role in supporting arbitration in the continent. Panelists lent special attention to diversity in international arbitration and called for increasing efforts to support the appointment of African arbitrators.