Logo AfGAC – African-German Arbitration Cooperation
Sign with the AfGAC Logo

About us

Welcome to AfGAC

The AfGAC African-German Arbitration Cooperation is anchored in the spirit of promoting international friendship and understanding. As legal certainty and the Rule of Law are important pillars for social and economic progress, we strive to stimulate and support Africa-related international business, with emphasis on resolving of disputes by alternative means, with a strong focus on arbitration but also including mediation.

Our Vision

AfGAC to become the most influential network of independent Africa-based International Arbitration Institutions of choice which meet the rapidly evolving dispute resolution needs of their users.

Our Mission

  • To strengthen the international visibility of Africa-based arbitration institutions in cooperation with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. 

  • To make sure that Africa-related commercial disputes are increasingly and expeditiously settled by African based arbitration institutions which are dedicated to providing first class quality and efficient services.

Project

AfGAC is geared towards a future of cross-continental business networks that promote inclusivity, equality of terms, a sustainable network of trade development and open dispute resolution mechanism for businesses engaged in transnational trade. 


Aiming to facilitate the resolution of Africa-related disputes by alternative means on the African continent, the Cairo Regional Centre for International Arbitration (CRCICA), the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), and the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) have, under the roof of AfGAC, joined forces with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce (HCC), together known as the “AfGAC Arbitral Institutions.” 

AfGAC allows them to share their strengths, knowledge, markets and find solutions to common challenges in a way that will make them further develop sustainable trade while increasingly promoting commercial dispute resolution. The focus is to ensure that the seats of the AfGAC Arbitral Institutions become highly competitive as global arbitration venues.

The key element of AfGAC is the independency of the AfGAC Arbitral Institutions. Their modern organizational structures and individual procedural rules meet international standards. Permanent quality control and transparency guarantee impartiality and unbiased judgements. The AfGAC Arbitral Institutions are committed to joint high level  Quality Standards and a joint Sample Model Clause. For the users this includes i.a. the option to agree on the appointment of arbitrators by a separate body or person, the guarantee of scrutiny of awards, established ethical standards (Code of Conduct) for the Arbitrator Lists and the Pledge to promote women and young lawyers in arbitration.

Key Documents of AfGAC

Access the pivotal agreements and foundational principles to which all members of AfGAC are committed. These documents represent a collective consensus and serve as cornerstones of our cooperation in arbitration and legal practice.

Memorandum of Understanding
Quality Standards
Sample Model Clause
Code of Conduct
Pledge

Our History

Five men and one woman are sitting at a podium table with microphones in Hamburg and talking.
Five men and one woman are sitting at a podium table with microphones in Hamburg and talking.Seminar Arbitration in Africa in Hamburg

February 15, 2023

Seminar “Arbitration in Africa” at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Seminar moderated by Dr. Jan Curschmann and Friedrich Joachim Mehmel (Partner of LawCom Institute, Hamburg), with Obiageli Ezekwesili (economic policy expert) and Prof. Dr. Emilia Onyema (SOAS London), both from Nigeria, Dr. Ismail Selim (Director of CRCICA) from Egypt, Lawrence Muiruri Ngugi (Registrar of NCIA) from Kenya, Victor Mugabe (Secretary General of KIAC) from Rwanda and Christian Graf (Legal Director of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce)

Four men and one woman are sitting on wooden chairs at a conference table and laughing during a workshop in Hamburg.
Four men and one woman are sitting on wooden chairs at a conference table and laughing during a workshop in Hamburg.Seven men and two women stand side by side in front of a gray curtain in Hamburg and pose for the camera.

November 23–24, 2023

First workshop at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Workshop with discussion and definition of the legal and practical framework conditions of an African - German Arbitration Cooperation, drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding, moderated by Dr. Jan Curschmann and Friedrich Joachim Mehmel (Partner of LawCom Institute, Hamburg), with Prof. Dr. Emilia Onyema (SOAS London) from Nigeria, Mohamed Hafez (CRCICA) from Egypt, Lawrence Muiruri Ngugi (Registrar of NCIA) from Kenya, Victor Mugabe (Secretary General of KIAC) from Rwanda and Christian Graf (Legal Director of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce)

Delegation Trip to Rwanda
Delegation Trip to RwandaPhoto of the street in front of KIAC, with the KIAC building on the right

March 2–6, 2024

Delegation trip Kigali, Rwanda

In March 2024, a delegation visited the local partner KIAC in Kigali, Rwanda. The trip provided valuable insights into KIAC’s work and operations, alongside important discussions with stakeholders from business, politics, and educational institutions to identify opportunities for collaboration and further strengthen the existing foundation for arbitration efforts.

Delegation trip to Nairobi
Delegation trip to NairobiGroup photo of an AfGAC delegation in Nairobi: Seven men and two women stand side by side and pose for the camera.

March 6–11, 2024

Delegation trip Nairobi, Kenya

In March 2024, a delegation visited the local partner NCIA in Nairobi, Kenya. The trip provided valuable insights into NCIA’s work and operations, alongside important discussions with stakeholders from business, politics, and educational institutions to identify opportunities for collaboration and further strengthen the existing foundation for arbitration efforts.

Signing Ceremony of the AfGAC Memorandum
Signing Ceremony of the AfGAC MemorandumSigning Ceremony of the AfGAC MemorandumFour men sit next to each other at a small table decorated with national flags and sign documents, with an advertising wall behind them.Four AfGAC employees stand side by side in front of an advertising wall, two men shake hands, in front of them is a small table with country flags.

March 7, 2024

Signing ceremony of the AfGAC Memorandum of Understanding in Nairobi

Signing ceremony in Nairobi with the presence of Dr. Mohamed Hafez (for CRCICA) from Egypt, Lawrence Muiruri Ngugi (for NCIA) from Kenya, Victor Mugabe (for KIAC) from Rwanda and Christian Graf (for the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce) and naming of the cooperation as AfGAC African-German Arbitration Cooperation.

Delegation trip to Cairo
Delegation trip to CairoGroup photo of an AfGAC delegation in Cairo: Six men and one woman stand side by side and pose for the camera.

September 22–26, 2024

Delegation trip Cairo, Egypt

In September 2024, a delegation visited the local partner CRCICA in Cario, Egypt. The trip provided valuable insights into CRCICA’s work and operations, alongside important discussions with stakeholders from business, politics, and educational institutions to identify opportunities for collaboration and further strengthen the existing foundation for arbitration efforts.