International Economic Law

It could be boldly stated that Collins Ajibo, through his book titled The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement: Legal and Policy Frameworks, sets out to fill this gap. The book provides a comprehensive assessment of African economic integration through the lens of International Economic Law. Its analysis is contextualised within the prevailing regional economic integrations, the WTO and the peculiarity of the AfCFTA. It also illustrates the complex interplay of diverse factors that shape the AfCFTA. In doing so, the book accomplishes these by providing interpretative guidance on the AfCFTA; providing guidance to traders, investors, and businesses to optimise opportunities afforded by the AfCFTA; and proffering suggestions to make the AfCFTA successful, that is to achieve sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goals, and other extant objectives. However, the book notes that the realisation of the above objectives is hugely dependent on the low development dynamics.

Collins C Ajibo’s important book, The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement: Legal and Policy Frameworks (Routledge, 2024), accomplishes an impressive systematization of the AfCFTA and its protocols, offering critical insights into the policy decisions which inform this international law regime. The AfCFTA is transforming international law, and Ajibo discusses with expertise its most salient innovations, including its extensive interlinkage to sustainable development goals and other regimes, along with concrete proposals for its successful implementation.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement: Legal and Policy Frameworks provides a comprehensive assessment of the African economic integration through the prism and principles of international economic law. The analysis is contextualized within the prevailing regional economic integrations, the WTO and the peculiarity of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Similarly, legal analysis is bolstered by the political economy of the AfCFTA, illustrating the complex interplay of diverse factors that shape the AfCFTA.

The News and Events category publishes the latest News and Events relating to International Economic Law relating to Africa and the Global South. Every week, Afronomicslaw.org receive the News and Events in their e-mail accounts. The News and Events published every week include conferences, major developments in the field of International Economic Law in Africa at the national, sub-regional and regional levels as well as relevant case law. News and Events with a Global South focus are also often included.

In response to these concerns, Ndegwa is demanding comprehensive accountability and transparency from the government. He is requesting detailed information on all secured levies, the specifics of the loans, the identity of the lenders, and how the funds have been utilized. By raising these issues, Ndegwa is not only questioning the legality of the government’s financial maneuvers but also highlighting a broader debate over whether Kenya's current economic state justifies financially risky strategies that could burden future generations. The scenario underscores the critical need for transparent and responsible financial management in the face of the country’s debt management challenges. Hence, by using private entities and failing to fully disclose the terms of these deals, the government appears to have bypassed key constitutional principles of public finance, accountability, and public participation. This approach burdens future generations with long-term debt and undermines effective oversight, raising serious questions about the integrity of the country's debt management practices.

While much has been written about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), very few studies address the social, political and cultural implications of this new regional bloc from the perspective of international economic law. In this respect, Professor Kufuor’s book pushes disciplinary boundaries and presents an original account of how markets have been constituted, expanded and reformulated across Africa. Kufuor draws on a range of theoretical lenses from international political economy, jurisprudence, history, sociology and economics to critically evaluate what institutional shifts will be required at different levels of governance if the aim of pan-African unification through a rules-based order is to materialise.

The News and Events category publishes the latest News and Events relating to International Economic Law relating to Africa and the Global South. Every week, Afronomicslaw.org receive the News and Events in their e-mail accounts. The News and Events published every week include conferences, major developments in the field of International Economic Law in Africa at the national, sub-regional and regional levels as well as relevant case law. News and Events with a Global South focus are also often included.

Le Forum académique d’Afronomicslaw est un réseau réunissant des étudiant.e.s, de jeunes chercheur.euse.s ainsi que des praticien.ne.s en début de carrière, animé.e.s par un intérêt marqué pour le droit international économique appliqué à l’Afrique et au Sud global. À travers un programme annuel structuré, le Forum propose un large éventail d’activités destinées à favoriser l’épanouissement intellectuel et professionnel de ses membres. Dans ce cadre, le Bureau Exécutif pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest, instance dirigeante du Forum dans la région, lance un appel à candidatures en vue de constituer sa deuxième cohorte.

The Afronomicslaw Academic Forum is a network of students, early-career researchers, and early-career practitioners interested in International Economic Law as it relates to Africa and the Global South. The Forum coordinates a wide range of activities to support the professional development of members over the course of one (1) year. The West African Executive Board, which is the leadership of the Forum in West Africa, is looking for students, early-career researchers, and early-career practitioners from the whole West African region who are passionate about international economic law to join the Forum as part of its second cohort.

The panelists in this inaugural webinar of the Canadian Yearbook of International Law will focus on some of these emerging questions. Comprising of academia, practice and policy experts, our panelists seek to shed light on some of the nagging issues of our day in search of a way forward.