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This first volume of EtYIL focuses on issues concerning the developing world in general and (the Horn of) Africa - and Ethiopia - specifically. It argues that rebalancing the international law narrative to reflect Africa's legitimate interests is an urgent priority, and can only succeed through the fair representation of African countries in the creation and interpretation of international law.The book begins by reflecting on the ICJ's West African Cases and provides a unique perspective on decolonisation as a source of jus cogens and obligations erga omnes. This is followed by a comprehensive analysis of the reception of international law in the Ethiopian legal system, and of the potential implications of Ethiopia joining the WTO. The book then delves into such topical issues as the relationship between competition for natural resources and international investment law, the UN Global Goals and the fledgling international climate change regime, with particular emphasison the Paris Climate Agreement and their implications for developing countries. Further issues include the Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam signed by Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt in light of Nile colonial treaties and contemporary international watercourses law, as well as selected legal implications of the armed conflict in South Sudan. Gathering high-quality scholarship from diverse researchers, and examining a constellation of critical international law issues affecting developing countries, especially African countries, the book offers a unique resource.
List of contents
Part I - Introduction: Towards Rebalancing the Narrative of International Law by Zeray Yihdego, Melaku Geboye Desta and Fikremarkos Merso.- Part II - Articles: The South West Africa Cases: 50 Years Later by Makane Moïse Mbengue and Najib Messihi.- Decolonisation as the Source of the Concepts of Jus Cogens and Obligations Erga Omnes by Jean Allain.- The Place of International Law in the Ethiopian Legal System by Getachew A. Woldemariam.- Ethiopia's WTO Accession at the Crossroads by Derk Bienen.- Competition for Natural Resources and International Investment Law: Analysis from the Perspective of Africa by Melaku Geboye Desta.- The Global Goals: Formalism Foregone, Contested Legality and "Re-imaginings" of International Law by Duncan French.- Developing Countries under the International Climate Change Regime: How does the Paris Agreement change their position? by Olivia Woolley.- Part III - Current Development:The Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: An Analytical Overview by Salman M. A. Salman.- The South Sudan Crisis: legal implications and responses of the international community by Jasmin Hansohm and Zeray Yihdego.
Summary
This first volume of EtYIL focuses on issues concerning the developing world in general and (the Horn of) Africa – and Ethiopia – specifically. It argues that rebalancing the international law narrative to reflect Africa’s legitimate interests is an urgent priority, and can only succeed through the fair representation of African countries in the creation and interpretation of international law.The book begins by reflecting on the ICJ’s West African Cases and provides a unique perspective on decolonisation as a source of jus cogens and obligations erga omnes. This is followed by a comprehensive analysis of the reception of international law in the Ethiopian legal system, and of the potential implications of Ethiopia joining the WTO. The book then delves into such topical issues as the relationship between competition for natural resources and international investment law, the UN Global Goals and the fledgling international climate change regime, with particular emphasison the Paris Climate Agreement and their implications for developing countries. Further issues include the Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam signed by Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt in light of Nile colonial treaties and contemporary international watercourses law, as well as selected legal implications of the armed conflict in South Sudan. Gathering high-quality scholarship from diverse researchers, and examining a constellation of critical international law issues affecting developing countries, especially African countries, the book offers a unique resource.
