For many of us, the ideal of a Pan-African approach to International Trade Law, opportunity for academic and professional development, and the platform to further develop and demonstrate our skills guided our participation in the AfCFTA Moot Court Competition. 

These were buttressed by the high level of organisation and support promised to participants. In a continent where the staggering costs of cross-country travel hinder the effective participation of law Students in international Moot competitions, the decision to fully fund the participation of the top 10 Participating Teams from each Region's preliminary memorial round to the regional oral round was a key motivator to all of us.

We were reassured by the quota emphasised in the Competition’s rules and publicized by organizations such as FALAS, ICOYACA, AfCFTA, and UPSA Law School, which guaranteed ten teams the opportunity to advance to the regional oral rounds.

By May 31, 2024, we dutifully submitted our memorials, hoping to be among those chosen teams. However, as of September 2024, the Steering Committee has not yet announced any results. Their radio silence haunts every participating team that has invested significant time, resources, and effort into this competition. After multiple attempts by various student representatives to seek clarification, the only response we received was devoid of any concrete timeline.

This inconsistency not only jeopardizes the credibility of the competition, but also significantly impacts the morale and future participation of the Universities involved. The AfCFTA Moot should uphold the standards it set forth in its rules, for the sake of both its reputation and its participants.

We urgently petition the Steering Committee to expedite the announcement of results and respectfully request that they reinforce the initial quota of ten teams for the regional oral rounds. Reinstate trust, uphold your promises, and preserve the credibility and integrity of this esteemed competition.

Sign this petition now and stand with us in urging the International Steering Committee of the AfCFTA Moot Court Competition to take immediate and decisive action.