Organisation: Common Court of Justice and Arbitration
OHADA welcomes reformed arbitration law
A revamped act governing arbitration in the 17 African states of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa, OHADA, has entered into force, with new provisions on investor-state arbitration and strict time limits for recognising and enforcing awards.
09 April 2018
OHADA reforms law in light of Getma case
The Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa, OHADA, is reforming its arbitration law applicable to 17 African states, including at least one provision inspired by the now notorious Getma v Guinea case.
20 December 2017
Niger denied judicial review in Paris
A Paris court has refused to block enforcement of a US$26 million award against Niger, despite allegations of fraudulent collusion between the arbitrator, claimant and witness - holding that judicial review of an order confirming an international arbitration award is not allowed.
15 September 2017
The African elephant in the room
An arbitral award against Guinea that was set aside in West Africa because the arbitrators agreed a fee increase with the parties has raised looming issues about how best to ensure the development of arbitration in Africa, as well as the question of the enforceability of awards annulled at the seat. Kwadwo Sarkodie and Joseph Otoo of Mayer Brown in London report.
09 August 2017
Annulled Guinea award blocked again in US
A US appeals court has refused to enforce an award against Guinea that was set aside by a West African court after the arbitrators negotiated a fee rise.
07 July 2017
UNCITRAL follows leader to Cameroon for 50th anniversary
The United Nations Commission for International Trade Law has kicked off celebrations of its 50th anniversary with an arbitration-focused event in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, home to the body’s current leader Gaston Kenfack Douajni and site of its planned African regional centre.
13 June 2017
Swedish emergency arbitrator halts enforcement of Benin court judgment
An emergency arbitrator in Stockholm has ordered Benin to stop judges from enforcing a "grotesquely flawed" judgment of its appeal court pending the outcome of a treaty arbitration against the west African state.
13 June 2017
Niger loses Central Park mansion in New York enforcement row
A mansion in New York’s affluent Upper East Side opposite Central Park has been attached by a court to satisfy a US$46 million award against the West African state of Niger in a dispute over a contract to produce biometric and electronic passports.
19 January 2017
Non-appearance costs Niger in passport dispute
A court in Washington, DC, has issued a default judgment confirming an award against Niger for the termination of a contract to produce biometric and electronic passports, after the West African state failed to respond to the motion to enforce or appear before the court.
29 September 2016
West African court confirms award against Niger
Following its controversial set aside of an award against Guinea, the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has confirmed a US$28 million award against Niger over a cancelled contract to produce electronic and biometric passports.
31 August 2016