African states face unprecedented volumes of ICSID and UNCITRAL investment treaty claims. West African mining disputes - Guinea's $28.9 billion Axis International claim, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger licence revocations - dominate the 2024–2025 landscape.
Expert witnesses provide country conditions analysis for expropriation and fair and equitable treatment claims, African law evidence on regulatory frameworks, and sector-specific knowledge in mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure.
Counsel should instruct experts early in memorial preparation to ensure evidence addresses the specific treaty standards, governing law, and factual matrix of each dispute.
Frequently asked questions
What expert disciplines are needed in African ICSID cases?
Typically: country conditions experts, African law experts, sector specialists (mining, energy), and quantum/damages experts. The specific mix depends on the treaty standards in dispute and governing law.
Which African countries face the most ICSID claims?
Guinea, Egypt, Algeria, DRC, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, and Libya. West Africa has seen the sharpest increase in 2024–2025 following military regime mining licence revocations.