For the first time in its 29-year history, the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition took place virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the restriction on movements and the various mitigating measures adopted by several countries on the continent. 29 English-speaking and 7 French-speaking teams took part in the online preliminary rounds from 21 September to 21 October 2020. The semi-final rounds take place from 9 to 14 November, and the final round on 28 November. All these rounds are virtual, using the Zoom platform.

#AfricanMoot2020 Preliminary Rounds Announcement Ceremony

PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

The preliminary rounds involved all participating teams arguing the hypothetical case twice: once as Applicant and once as Respondent. The rounds were held separately in English and French. The panels of judges were made up of human rights law lecturers and practicing human rights lawyers. Scores were awarded based on the following criteria:

• Knowledge of facts
• Articulation and correct analysis of issues
• Familiarity with international law, with preference for African authorities
• Persuasiveness
• Ingenuity
• Organisation
• Ability to respond to questions

The results of the preliminary rounds were announced during an online ceremony on 23 October 2020.

ENGLISH ROUNDS

Ten best oralists

1. Kweku Agyepong (University of Ghana, Legon)
2. Martha Nassanga (Makerere University)
3. Dinendri Pillay (University of Pretoria)
4. Thuwaybah Moses (University of Pretoria)
5. Claire Rankin (Stellenbosch University)
6. Thelma Teuka Tembo (Chancellor College, University of Malawi)
7. Precious Paul Kalulu ( Chancellor College, University of Malawi)
8. Nicholas Ewan Carroll ( Stellenbosch University)
9. Quinter Otieno ( Kenyatta University)
10. Onyango Owino (Kenyatta University)

Ten best memorials

The highest marks for memorials were awarded to the following teams:

1. University of Ghana, Legon (Ghana)
2. University of Pretoria (South Africa)
3. Makerere University (Uganda)
4. Cavendish university-Uganda
5. Africa Nazarene University (Kenya)
6. University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
7. University of Lagos (Nigeria)
8. Chancellor College, University of Malawi
9. Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
10. University of Nairobi (Kenya)

Ten best teams

1. University of Pretoria (South Africa)
2. University of Ghana, Legon (Ghana)
3. Makerere University (Uganda)
4. Chancellor College, University of Malawi (Malawi)
5. Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
6. Kenyatta University (Kenya)
7. University of Nairobi (Kenya)
8. University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
9. University of Lagos (Nigeria)
10. Africa Nazarene University (Kenya)

FRENCH ROUNDS

Five best oralists

1. Goule Gueassa Ruben Tahou (Université Felix Houphouët-Boigny de Cocody)
2. Soro Nerguegnon Flora Gertrude (Université Felix Houphouët-Boigny de Cocody)
3. Ngom Mariama (Université Virtuelle de Sénégal)
4. Diouf Edouard Kory (Université Virtuelle de Sénégal)
5. Coulibaly Lagnon Damaris Gerielle (Institut Universitaire d’Abidjan)

Three best memorials

1. Université Felix Houphouët-Boigny de Cocody
2. Université Virtuelle du Sénégal
3. Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan

Three best teams

1. Université Felix Houphouët-Boigny de Cocody
2. Université Virtuelle du Sénégal
3. Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan

SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS

The eight semi-finalist teams are from seven different African countries. The semi-finalists are:

Anglophone:

• Chancellor College, University of Malawi
• Kenyatta University, Kenya
• Makerere University, Uganda
• Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
• University of Pretoria, South Africa

Francophone:

• Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny de Cocody, Côte d’Ivoire
• Université Virtuelle de Sénégal, Senegal

A draw of lots was conducted to determine the opponents for the different semi-final rounds and which side of the case each team would argue. The draw resulted in the following schedule:  

9 November 2020 at 11:00 GMT / 13:00 SAST (Anglophone)

Team 22 as Applicant
Team 26 as Respondent

10 November 2020 at 15:00 GMT / 17:00 SAST (Francophone)

Team 4 as Applicant
Team 1 as Respondent

13 November 2020 at 08:00 GMT / 10:00 SAST (Anglophone)

Team 18 as Applicant
Team 15 as Respondent

14 November 2020 at 08:00 GMT / 10:00 SAST (Anglophone)

Team 14 as Applicant
Team 17 as Respondent

The finalists will be announced on 14 November 2020, during an on-line announcement ceremony.

FINAL ROUND

The winning team in each of the 4 semi-finals will advance to the final, which is expected to take place online on 28 November 2020. The best three English-language teams and one French-language team will advance to the final.

Two teams will be joined to argue the case for the applicant as a new combined team and the other two teams, as a new combined team, will argue the case for the respondent in the final.

The semi-final and final rounds will be open to the public. More information will be provided in due course.

BACKGROUND

The African Human Rights Moot Court Competition is the largest gathering of students, academics and judges around the theme of human rights in Africa. This annual event brings together all law faculties in Africa, whose top students argue a hypothetical human rights case as if they were before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Competition aims to prepare a new generation of lawyers to argue cases of alleged human rights violations before the African Court.

The Moot has become a permanent fixture on the calendar of many African Universities and students compete fiercely to be selected as ambassadors of their university and country.

For more information, please contact:

Yusuf Sayaad
Project Coordinator: African Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
[email protected]
www.chr.up.ac.za/moot