Rishi Gulati with Hakeem Seriki and Ifeanyi Egwuatu on Dispute Resolution under the AfCFTA Investment Protocol

In this episode of the UEA Law School Podcase Series, Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Hakeem Seriki (Associate Professor in Commercial Law, UEA Law School)  and Ifeanyi Egwuatu (Nigerian lawyer). The conversation  builds on from their recently published article in the Civil Justice Quarterly titled "Efficiency, effectiveness and pragmatism: What next for dispute resolution under AFCFTA and the investment protocol?" The discussion focuses on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) which was signed in March 2018 to boost intra-African trade and will transform economic integration in Africa by creating the largest free trade area in the world measured by the number of countries participating. Central to the success or otherwise of AfCFTA is the existence of an effective dispute resolution mechanism to resolve disputes arising under the Investment Protocol to the AFCFTA which was adopted in 2023. The discussion focuses on the practical options that could be adopted to resolve investment disputes, with the authors arguing that a reformed form of ISDS should be adopted given it is the most efficient, effective and pragmatic option in the short to medium term.