| 6 May 2026 – The second day of Johannesburg Arbitration Week (JAW) 2026 delivered a packed programme of high-level discussions, strategic partnerships, and thought-provoking debates on the future of international arbitration.The day opened with an exclusive Women in Arbitration breakfast hosted by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), aimed at fostering networking and advancing gender diversity in a field where women remain underrepresented.
The conference continued with high-stakes discussions positioning Africa as a resilient hub for international arbitration amid geopolitical turbulence and technological disruption.
“JAW 2026 is proving Africa’s arbitration ecosystem is not just adapting to global uncertainty, it’s leading it,” said Prof Lise Bosman, AFSA Court President and Executive Director of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA).
The first session, “Leveraging Opportunities in Times of Uncertainty”, dissected Africa’s legislative modernisation, Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), and increasingly supportive judicial enforcement. Moderator Clement Mkiva, Co-Head of Litigation at Bowmans, led panellists Gerhard Rudolph, Jonathan Barnes, John Kawana, Brian Mambosho, and Akshav Mossuddee in highlighting how proactive reforms are attracting foreign direct investment. “Africa’s BIT evolution is unlocking investment flows despite headwinds,” said Barnes. |
