The revised OHADA Uniform Act on Arbitration (the Arbitration Act) and revised Rules on Arbitration of the Joint Court of Justice and Arbitration (the CCJA) (the Rules), as well as the new Uniform Act on Mediation (the Mediation Act), entered into force on 15 March 2018. The fruit of nearly two years of consultations among the 17 Member States of the Organisation for the Harmonization of Corporate Law in Africa (OHADA), these new acts will apply to all proceedings initiated as of such effective date. These acts had all been approved on 23 November 2017 by the OHADA Council of Ministers.

The international arbitration landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa is changing at a rapid rate. This blog entry looks at key legal developments in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa over the past few months, many of which could be seen to be enhancing the ability of the region’s countries and fora to deal with international disputes expeditiously and efficiently. We also offer our view on the future of the international investment regime in the region.