From 29 March to 1 April 2016 the ELSA Moot Court Competition on WTO Law (http://EMC2.ELSA.org) will hold its African Regional Round at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.

The ELSA Moot Court Competition is a simulation of a WTO panel proceeding. The competition is student-run, organized annually by The European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) (www.ELSA.org) in co-operation with the World Trade Organization (WTO) (www.WTO.org). It is designed to enhance knowledge of international trade law and WTO dispute settlement procedures, with a view to enhancing capacity for meaningful engagement in multilateral trade in the long term. It has a global reach and its participants come from every continent.

This year, the competition will be having its third African Regional Round. Ten Universities from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda will gather to compete against each other and the best three teams will qualify for the world Finals taking place at the headquarters of the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2016. Participation of the teams in the African Regional Round is generously sponsored by the African Trade Policy Centre of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as well as other local, regional, and international donors.

The purpose of this initiative is to support the continuing participation of African universities in a student competition designed to enhance knowledge of international trade law and WTO dispute settlement procedures, with a view to enhancing capacity in Africa in the long term.

Through this competition the participants will gain invaluable experience as a supplement to their university degree. By practicing and seeing for themselves how the WTO dispute mechanism works they will have a great insight and advantage for later career purposes.

Good luck to all the participating teams!

“Though the organization of the African Regional Round, ELSA is fulfilling its social responsibility throughout the students worldwide, providing them with life time chance to make their dreams about the international career come true. “ – Ada Gawrysiak, Vice President for Moot Court Competitions, ELSA International.