Concerned about the ongoing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa’s Dispute Resolution Landscape, the Africa Arbitration Academy has just launched its Protocol on Virtual Hearings in Africa. The Protocol, in the main, details recommendations on virtual arbitral hearings and considers the specific challenges and circumstances that may arise in relation to remote hearings in Africa.

The overarching objectives of the Protocol are (a) to provide guidelines and best practices for arbitrations within Africa, where a physical hearing is impracticable due to health, safety, cost, or other considerations; (b) to encourage African institutions and governments to make express references to virtual hearings in arbitration rules and laws; (c) to serve as guiding standards, principles, and provisions to be adopted by arbitral institutions or governments in Africa when drafting their arbitration rules and laws.

Congratulations to the rising stars and senior practitioners who worked tirelessly on this important project. Please download the Protocol here – https://www.africaarbitrationacademy.org/protocol-virtual-hearings/