The competition, which is held each year at a different African university, brings together law students and lecturers from across the African continent. This year the students argue whether a hypothetical African government has contravened the African Charter or other international law by relocating an indigenous group from the land which they traditionally occupied, and granting a Coltan exploitation license over that land to a mining company that is government co-owned.

• Read more about the 20th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition

The competition is held for the 20th time in 2011, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Centre for Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Centre for Human Rights organises the competition each year and is collaborating with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to present the 20th edition of the event.

The six top teams (4 Anglophone and 2 Francophone teams) will argue in the final round on 12 July at the South African Reserve Bank.  The teams are determined by a draw of lots and are as follows:

APPLICANTS IN THE FINAL ROUND:

• University of Ghana
• Moi University (Kenya)
• Université Gaston Berger (Senegal)

RESPONDENTS IN THE FINAL ROUND:

• University of Pretoria (South Africa)
• University of Botswana
• Université de Cocody (Cote d'Ivoire)

JUDGES IN THE FINAL ROUND ARE:

• Honourable Alapini Reine, Chairperson of the African Commission
• Honourable Mumba Malila, Vice- Chairperson of the African Commission
• Honourable Lucy Asuagbor, Member of the African Commission and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa
• Honourable Catherine Dupe Atoki, Member of the African Commission and Special Rapporteur on Prison Conditions in Africa
• Honourable Pansy Tlakula, Member of the African Commission and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa