East African Infrastructure Projects and Dispute Resolution

East African Infrastructure Projects and Dispute Resolution 

by Bernd Ehle*, Benjamin Ng’eno** & Baptiste Rigaudeau***

The growing number of complex infrastructure projects in the East African region has led to numerous construction disputes, especially where complex financial, operational and political risks materialise. This article describes the landscape regarding major infrastructure projects in East Africa, including the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It examines how disputes related to such projects are being resolved today and provides a brief overview of the East African arbitration landscape. The authors seek to identify certain trends for the future, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization, and close with an outlook into the future.

This article was first published by Thomson Reuters, trading as Sweet & Maxwell, 5 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 SAQ, in the International Business Law Journal (IBLJ) 4/2021 and is reproduced by agreement with the publishers.

* Partner, LALIVE, Geneva, Switzerland, behle@lalive.law.

** LL.M. International Dispute Settlement (MIDS), Arbitration and International Disputes Lawyer, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, benjamin.ngeno@mids.ch.

*** Associate, LALIVE, Geneva, Switzerland, brigaudeau@lalive.law.