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Rwanda to open international arbitration centre
Practical Law UK Legal Update 9-518-2279 (Approx. 2 pages)
Rwanda to open international arbitration centre
by Practical Law
| Published on 28 Feb 2012 • Rwanda |
Leonie Parkin (Associate) and Jide Adesokan (Legal Assistant) Stephenson Harwood
The Rwandan Private Sector Federation (PSF) is set to open an international arbitration centre in its capital, Kigali, called the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC). KIAC was established by statute in 2011 and one of its key purposes is to promote the resolution of commercial disputes by arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
KIAC will initially be housed in the premises of the PSF but in due course will move out to its own offices. The PSF intends that the KIAC will provide facilities capable of hosting both domestic and international arbitrations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It is also hoped that personnel at the KIAC will be able to advise the Rwandan Government on the arbitration of commercial disputes.
The establishment of the KIAC follows the establishment of commercial courts in Rwanda in 2008 to deal with the country's commercial disputes. Both form part of a drive to reform the country's legal system that has seen 19 magistrates being sent for training abroad.
The KIAC is currently in the process of recruiting officers who will be responsible for the administration of the centre.