35th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire | 26 July – 2 August 2026
Executive Overview
The 35th edition of the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition marked a defining moment in the history of one of Africa's longest-running and most prestigious human rights advocacy competitions. Hosted in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 26 July to 2 August 2026, this landmark edition brought together 61 universities from 22 African countries in Abidjan. A record 15 Francophone teams took part—the largest Francophone cohort in the Competition's history. The Competition was co-hosted by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, and the Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan (IUA), with the support of numerous national and international partners. The 2026 edition combined advocacy, academic dialogue and regional cooperation, reaffirming its educational mission. The combined team of Université Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso) and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (Ghana) emerged as winners. Following a one-day conference hosted as part of the Competition, the Abidjan Declaration on Celebrating 75 Years of Refugee Protection in Africa and Asserting Human Rights through Direct Access to the African Court was adopted by participants during the week.
The 35-year anniversary of the Moot Competition coincided with the Centre for Human Rights reaching the milestone of 40 years since its establishment in 1986, and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights reached the landmark of 20 years since it started operating in Arusha, Tanzania.
Advancing Scholarly Engagement
An established feature of the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, an International Human Rights Conference was once again part of the programme during the 35th edition. Held on 27 July 2026 at the Centre Régional de Recherche et de Documentation pour le Développement Économique et Social (CRRAE-UMOA) in Abidjan, the Conference was organised by the Centre for Human Rights in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme de Côte d'Ivoire (CNDH), the national human rights institution of Côte d'Ivoire. It complemented the advocacy competition by providing a forum for scholarly reflection on contemporary challenges confronting the African human rights system.
The day began with an Opening Ceremony, with welcoming remarks by MCs Dr Michelle Maziwisa and Dr Ivy Gikonyo, opening remarks by Dr Sabelo Gumedze, and remarks by Dr Adjelou Christian Arnaud, President of the CNDH.
The International Human Rights Conference has long reflected the Centre's vision of the Moot Court Competition as more than a skills-based advocacy exercise. It reinforces the Competition's broader educational mission by creating a space where students, academics, judges, practitioners and policymakers can engage critically with contemporary developments in international and regional human rights law. By complementing the advocacy component with scholarly dialogue, the Conference ensures that participants not only develop practical litigation skills but also deepen their understanding of the legal and policy challenges shaping Africa's human rights landscape.
The Conference programme combined academic paper presentations with a moderated roundtable discussion, enabling participants to examine both doctrinal developments and institutional practice from multiple perspectives.
The programme opened with a keynote address by Patrick Eba, Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection and Solutions at UNHCR, on “75 Years of Refugee Protection in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Generation,” followed by questions from the floor.
The first session, chaired by Bonolo Makgale, explored contemporary developments in refugee protection under African and international law. The selected papers examined innovative approaches to local integration through public interest litigation; the implications of climate-induced displacement under the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, presented by Elisée Kiasi Dimundu, co-authored with Giscard Bilingi Kyatenda, and the consequences of the externalisation of asylum responsibilities for refugee protection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Collectively, these contributions illustrated the continued dynamism of African scholarship and highlighted the capacity of emerging researchers to contribute meaningfully to regional legal discourse.
Departing from the conventional conference format, the second session was organised as a moderated roundtable on direct access to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. Chaired by Judge Sylvain Oré, former President of the African Court, Professor Frans Viljoen, and Professor Sâ Benjamin Traoré, the discussion brought together academics, practitioners and institutional representatives to consider practical pathways for strengthening access to regional justice. Among the presentations, Élisée Judicaël Tiehi (Independent Expert, African Commission Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities) and Jihen Moussaoui (Avocate au Barreau de Tunis and university lecturer specialising in human rights and digital law) made presentations. The interactive format encouraged sustained dialogue between presenters, discussants and participants, demonstrating the value of collaborative engagement in addressing complex institutional challenges.
The Conference concluded with a closing session chaired by Diane Hassane, Magistrate and Secretary General of the CNDH, during which closing remarks were delivered by representatives of the Centre for Human Rights, UNHCR and the CNDH, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights. Beyond its immediate academic contribution, the inaugural Conference established a foundation for future editions of the Moot Court Competition by embedding scholarly dialogue as a permanent feature of the programme. In doing so, it reinforced the Competition's dual identity as both an advocacy competition and a continental forum for intellectual engagement on contemporary human rights issues.
The Abidjan Declaration
One of the most enduring outcomes of the inaugural International Human Rights Conference was the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration on Celebrating 75 Years of Refugee Protection in Africa and Asserting Human Rights through Direct Access to the African Court. Adopted on 1 August 2026 by lecturers, students and representatives of international and civil society organisations from 61 universities, the Declaration transformed the Conference from a forum for discussion into a platform for collective reflection and principled action.
The Declaration reaffirmed the centrality of refugee protection within Africa's human rights framework and called upon States to ensure that international and regional legal commitments are translated into meaningful protection for those displaced by conflict, persecution and other humanitarian crises. Rejecting increasingly restrictive approaches to asylum and displacement, it urged governments to preserve Africa's longstanding tradition of hospitality while strengthening legal and institutional mechanisms for refugee protection.
The Declaration also expressed concern regarding the progressive withdrawal of Article 34(6) declarations permitting direct individual access to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. Recognising the importance of direct access as a cornerstone of regional accountability, participants called for renewed national dialogue aimed at restoring and expanding opportunities for individuals and non-governmental organisations to seek justice before the Court.
Most importantly, the Abidjan Declaration reflected the aspirations of a new generation of African lawyers committed to strengthening the continent's human rights architecture. It concluded with a call upon students, academics and practitioners to continue advancing the values of accountability, solidarity and human dignity that have long underpinned the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition. In this respect, the Declaration stands as both a record of the Conference's deliberations and a lasting statement of the Competition's broader educational mission.
The Competition
At the heart of the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition lies its commitment to developing the next generation of African human rights lawyers through rigorous legal education and practical advocacy. The Competition challenges students to apply international and regional human rights law to a complex hypothetical case, requiring excellence in legal research, written advocacy and oral argument. By combining academic rigour with courtroom simulation, the Moot Court Competition equips participants with the analytical, persuasive and professional skills required for legal practice before domestic, regional and international tribunals.
Proceedings were conducted in English, French and Portuguese, reflecting the multilingual character of the Competition and ensuring broad participation from across the continent. Throughout the week, students argued both the Applicant's and Respondent's cases before panels composed of academics, judges, and experienced legal practitioners.
Beyond determining winners, the Competition seeks to cultivate excellence in legal reasoning and advocacy. Participants were assessed on their knowledge of the facts, understanding of international and regional human rights law, analytical ability, persuasiveness, organisation and responsiveness to judicial questioning. These criteria reflect the professional competencies expected of advocates appearing before regional and international courts and tribunals.
Preliminary Rounds
The preliminary rounds provided the first opportunity for participants to demonstrate the quality of their written preparation and oral advocacy. Every team argued the hypothetical case four times, appearing twice as Applicant and twice as Respondent. This format ensured that students engaged comprehensively with every aspect of the case while demonstrating their ability to present balanced and persuasive legal arguments from opposing perspectives.
The quality of advocacy throughout the preliminary rounds reflected the increasingly high standards achieved by participating universities. Teams demonstrated sophisticated engagement with African and international human rights jurisprudence, while judges consistently remarked upon the depth of legal research, clarity of argument and professionalism displayed by competitors across all three official languages of the Competition.
The highest-ranked universities in the English, French and Portuguese divisions represented an impressive geographical spread, illustrating both the continued growth of human rights legal education across Africa and the Competition's ability to attract outstanding institutions from diverse legal traditions. The French division was the largest in the Competition's history, with a record 15 Francophone teams competing.
Excellence in Written and Oral Advocacy
The Christof Heyns Moot Court Competition recognises excellence not only in overall team performance but also in the distinct disciplines that together define successful advocacy. Separate awards are therefore presented for memorial writing and oral argument, acknowledging that effective human rights litigation requires mastery of both written legal analysis and persuasive courtroom advocacy.
The memorial awards recognised teams that produced written submissions distinguished by rigorous legal analysis, careful use of international and regional authorities and coherent legal argumentation. The consistently high standard of memorials submitted across the three language divisions reflected the considerable investment made by students and accompanying lecturers in preparing for the Competition.
Similarly, the oralist awards celebrated individual advocates whose courtroom performances combined legal precision, persuasive advocacy and confidence under judicial questioning. The outstanding performances recognised through these awards demonstrate the Competition's continuing success in nurturing future litigators capable of appearing before national, regional and international human rights bodies.
Below is a summary of the top teams in each language group in the preliminary rounds. Full results are available on our web page: https://www.chr.up.ac.za/moot
English-language Stream
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Makerere University (Uganda)
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University of Ghana (Ghana)
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University of Nairobi (Kenya)
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Pentecost University (Ghana)
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University of Lagos (Nigeria)
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University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
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Kabarak University (Kenya)
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Africa University (Zimbabwe)
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Uganda Christian University (Uganda)
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Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA, Ghana)
French-language Stream
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Université Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso)
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Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Côte d'Ivoire)
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Institut Supérieur de Droit International et des Droits de l'homme (Burkina Faso)
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Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)
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Université Alassane Ouattara (Côte d'Ivoire)
Portuguese Stream
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Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (Mozambique)
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Universidade Jean Piaget de Angola (Angola)
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Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique)
Best Memorials
Below are the top-ranked memorials in each language stream, based on the average of the Applicant and Respondent memorial scores.
English-language Stream
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Makerere University (Uganda)
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Africa University (Zimbabwe)
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University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
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Strathmore University (Kenya)
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University of Pretoria (South Africa)
French-language Stream
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Institut Supérieur de Droit International et des Droits de l'Homme (Burkina Faso)
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Université Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso)
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Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Côte d'Ivoire)
Portuguese Stream
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Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique)
Best Oralists
Below are the top oralists in each language stream, ranked by oral round average.
English-language Stream
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Nana Adjoa Aseda Ebrah Addae: University of Ghana (Ghana)
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Mwangi Rick Karaihira: University of Nairobi (Kenya)
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Mawufemor Nyave: Pentecost University (Ghana)
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Frederick Essandoh Arkoh Junior Arkoh: University of Ghana (Ghana)
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Owen Mayanja: Makerere University (Uganda)
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Adeolu Matthew Adesulure: University of Lagos (Nigeria)
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Conrad Emmanuel Akesigaruhanga: Makerere University (Uganda)
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Mampai Christine: University of Nairobi (Kenya)
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Tracy Kimutai: Kabarak University (Kenya)
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Ashley Chepkemoi Ngeno: Kabarak University (Kenya)
French-language Stream
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Jérémie Meley Annabel Yao: Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)
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Sarah Stéphanie Syhié Koffi: Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Côte d'Ivoire)
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Carene Fawzia Compaore: Université Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso)
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Aude Yabahou Bomotchi de Souza: Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Côte d'Ivoire)
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Kiswendsida Fabrice Landry Kabore: Institut Supérieur de Droit International et des Droits de l'Homme (Burkina Faso)
Portuguese Stream
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Ângela Cruz: Universidade Jean Piaget de Angola (Angola)
The Grand Final
The Grand Final, held on 1 August 2026 at the Auditorium du Ministère des Affaires étrangères in Abidjan, represented the culmination of a week of exceptional legal advocacy and academic engagement. The proceedings brought together four outstanding universities that had distinguished themselves throughout the Competition: Makerere University (Uganda), the University of Lagos (Nigeria), the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) (Ghana), and Université Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso).
A defining characteristic of the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition is its commitment to fostering continental cooperation. Unlike conventional moot court competitions, the Grand Final does not pit universities against one another. Instead, the four qualifying institutions are paired to form two combined teams comprising students from different countries, linguistic traditions and legal systems. This distinctive format reflects the Competition's broader educational philosophy: that the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa requires collaboration across national and linguistic boundaries.
Accordingly, Makerere University and the University of Lagos combined to argue the Applicant's case, while GIMPA and Université Thomas Sankara represented the Respondent. The Final therefore became not only a contest of legal ability but also a demonstration of cross-cultural cooperation and professional teamwork, mirroring the collaborative nature of contemporary international human rights litigation.
Following oral argument and judicial deliberation, the Respondent team—comprising students from GIMPA and Université Thomas Sankara—was declared the winner of the 35th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition. The composition of the winning team, bringing together Anglophone and Francophone institutions, provided a fitting illustration of the Competition's enduring commitment to pan-African cooperation, multilingual engagement and academic excellence.
The Final was adjudicated by an eminent bench drawn from leading regional and international human rights institutions. Their participation reinforced the Competition's close relationship with Africa's human rights architecture and provided finalists with the invaluable experience of presenting legal argument before distinguished jurists and practitioners whose work continues to shape the development of international human rights law on the continent. The bench was composed as follows:
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Justice Stella Anukam - Judge, African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, a national of Nigeria
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Justice Edward Amoako Asante - President, ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, a national of Ghana
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Justice N'DRI Mathurin - Vice-President, Cour de Cassation of Côte d'Ivoire, a national of Côte d'Ivoire
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Ms Hermine Kembo Takam Gatsing - Member, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, a national of Cameroon
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Professor Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, France
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Professor Sâ Benjamin Traoré - Associate Professor, African Institute for Research in Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Governance, Economics and Social Sciences, Mohamed VI Polytechnic University, Rabat, Morocco, a national of Burkina Faso
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Ms Angela Melo - Former Commissioner, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, a national of Mozambique
Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner marked the conclusion of a week characterised by rigorous academic engagement, professional exchange and continental solidarity. Hosted at Sunshine Place in Abidjan, the evening celebrated not only the achievements of the winning teams and individual award recipients but also the collective commitment demonstrated by every participating university, judge, lecturer and partner institution throughout the Competition.
A particular highlight of the evening was the cutting of a cake marking two milestones celebrated together: the 35th anniversary of the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition and the 40th anniversary of the Centre for Human Rights. The gesture was another initiative of the Côte d'Ivoire alumni community, reflecting the same spirit of dedication that shaped the Abidjan edition throughout.
For many participants, the Closing Ceremony represented more than the presentation of awards. It marked the culmination of months of preparation, the formation of lasting professional relationships and entry into a growing community of alumni committed to advancing human rights across Africa. In this respect, the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition continues to fulfil a mission extending well beyond advocacy training: it catalyses regional cooperation, intellectual exchange and the development of future leaders within Africa's human rights community.
Legacy of the Abidjan Edition
The 35th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition will be remembered not only for the quality of advocacy displayed by its participants, but also for the breadth of collaboration that made it possible. The Abidjan edition demonstrated the enduring vitality of the Competition and reaffirmed its position as Africa's leading platform for human rights education, legal advocacy and scholarly engagement.
Throughout the week, participants engaged not only in competitive advocacy but also in meaningful dialogue on the future of the African human rights system. The introduction of the inaugural International Human Rights Conference significantly broadened the intellectual scope of the Competition, creating opportunities for students, academics, judges and practitioners to exchange ideas on issues of continental importance. Equally significant was the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration, which stands as a lasting expression of the shared commitment of participants to strengthening refugee protection and preserving meaningful access to regional justice.
The Abidjan edition also illustrated the strength of the partnerships that have sustained the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition for more than three decades. The collaboration between academic institutions, international organisations, national human rights institutions, members of the judiciary and the Competition's alumni community demonstrated that the promotion of human rights education is a shared responsibility requiring sustained cooperation across institutions and borders.
Most importantly, the Competition reaffirmed its central purpose: investing in Africa's next generation of human rights lawyers. Every memorial submitted, every oral argument presented and every discussion held during the Competition contributed to preparing future advocates, judges, academics and public servants who will continue to strengthen the protection of human rights across the continent.
Institutional Partnerships and Acknowledgements
The Centre for Human Rights expresses its sincere appreciation to the many institutions and individuals whose commitment and generosity made the successful organisation of the 35th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition possible.
The Centre wishes to acknowledge its principal funders, the Millennium Trust and the Global Campus of Human Rights, whose generous financial support underpinned the successful delivery of the 35th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
The Centre extends its profound gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, particularly the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for their unwavering institutional support throughout the Competition. The gracious provision of the Auditorium du Ministère des Affaires étrangères for the Grand Final provided an appropriate setting for the culmination of the Competition and reflected the Government's commitment to advancing legal education and regional cooperation in the field of human rights.
The Centre further acknowledges the invaluable partnership of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The organisation's collaboration in conceptualising and delivering the inaugural International Human Rights Conference significantly enriched the academic programme and strengthened the relationship between the Competition and the broader international human rights community. UNHCR's substantive contribution to the development of the Conference theme, the selection of scholarly papers and the participation of senior officials greatly enhanced the quality and impact of this historic initiative.
The Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme de Côte d'Ivoire (CNDH) is warmly thanked for its outstanding partnership throughout the week. Beyond its collaboration in the International Human Rights Conference, the CNDH contributed members to the panels of judges, participated actively in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and provided invaluable institutional support that contributed significantly to the success of the Competition.
The Centre also records its deep appreciation to the Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan (IUA) for serving as local co-host. The University's commitment, professionalism and close collaboration with the Centre throughout the planning and implementation of the Competition were instrumental in successfully welcoming participants from across the continent to Côte d'Ivoire.
Special recognition is once again extended to the Côte d'Ivoire Christof Heyns Moot alumni community, whose extraordinary dedication exemplified the spirit of service and professional solidarity that has become one of the Competition's defining characteristics. Their willingness to devote their expertise, time and personal resources to the successful delivery of the Competition reflects the lasting impact of the Moot Court programme and the enduring commitment of its alumni to advancing human rights education in Africa.
Particular tribute is owed to Dr Olivier Lobé, a Christof Heyns Moot alumnus (16th edition, held in Saint-Louis and Dakar, Senegal), who chaired the local organising committee of alumni for the Abidjan edition. An academic and practising attorney who serves as Sous-Directeur des Affaires Juridiques et du Contentieux at the Office du Service Civique National (sous tutelle du Ministère de la Jeunesse), Dr Lobé gave generously of his time, expertise and, in several instances, his personal financial resources to ensure the Competition proceeded as planned. The Centre owes him a profound debt of gratitude for this selfless commitment.
Special mention is also owed to Boris Tchoumavi and Bruno Menzan, both Christof Heyns Moot alumni, who went out of their way to assist a number of participants with visa arrangements and contributed personally towards the cost of the Gala Dinner. Their generosity reflects the same spirit of alumni solidarity that has become a hallmark of the Competition.
Finally, the Centre expresses its sincere gratitude to every university, lecturer, judge, interpreter, volunteer, sponsor and participant whose commitment transformed the thirty-fifth edition into a memorable celebration of academic excellence and pan-African cooperation. Their collective contribution continues a tradition that has inspired generations of African lawyers and will undoubtedly continue to do so for many years to come.
Looking Ahead: Nairobi 2027
As the curtains fell on a memorable week in Abidjan, attention turned to the future of the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition. During the Closing Ceremony, it was announced that the 2027 edition would be hosted by Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the Competition's return to East Africa.
The transition from Abidjan to Nairobi represents more than a change of venue. It reflects the Competition's enduring continental character and its continuing tradition of rotating among African regions to promote broad participation, institutional partnership and shared ownership of one of Africa's most distinguished human rights educational programmes.
Building upon the achievements of the Abidjan edition, the Centre for Human Rights looks forward to working with Daystar University and its partners to continue strengthening the Competition as a platform for legal excellence, scholarly engagement and regional cooperation. The innovations introduced in Côte d'Ivoire—including the inaugural International Human Rights Conference and the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration—provide a strong foundation upon which future editions can continue to expand the Competition's educational impact.
After 35 years, the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition remains far more than a moot court. It is a continental institution that has shaped generations of African lawyers, strengthened networks of human rights professionals across linguistic and legal traditions, and contributed meaningfully to the development of the African human rights system. The Abidjan edition stands as another important chapter in that history, leaving a legacy of academic excellence, institutional partnership and pan-African solidarity that will continue to inspire future generations.
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