Against a backdrop of global geopolitical shifts, rapidtechnological advances and evolving regional economic frameworks, arbitration is set to play a defining role inshaping the future of trade, investment and sustainable development in Africa.

Johannesburg Arbitration Week (JAW), which is being held inJohannesburg from 5-7 May 2026, will unite leading experts toexamine the role of arbitration within this shifting global landscape, explore the challenges and opportunities shaping its future, and assess how arbitration on the continent is evolving, from embracing technological innovation and adoptinginternational best practies to developing ethical frameworks that could contribute to global benchmarks.”

The conference programme brings these themes to life. Sessions probing the impact of sanctions, trade blocs and erodingmultilateralism on enforcement will unpack how geopoliticalforces, including the rise of BRICS, the rollout of the AfCFTA andthe weakening of the rules-based international order, arereshaping the legal landscape for arbitration and cross-borderenforcement.

Institutional development is also a key focus, with discussions on how arbitral institutions across the continent can collaborate to build credibility and capacity, while broader questions ofinternational enforceability and global integration will explorehowAfricanarbitrationcanachieverecognitionandreachbeyond thecontinent’sborders.