January 13, 2025
Following a unanimous ratification by its Advisory Board, the African International Economic Law Network (AfIELN) is pleased to announce two important changes and updates relating to its leadership.
President
As of January 1, 2025, Dr. Regis Simo was appointed and approved as the new President of the AfIELN - 2025-2027.
EN
Dr Regis Simo is a Lecturer in International Trade Law at Queen’s University Belfast. His research focuses on international law, international economic law, law and development, and African Union (economic) Law. In September 2022, he was appointed a UK Trade and Sustainable Development Domestic Advisory Group (UK TSD DAG) Member Representative by the UK Department for International Trade (DIT). Dr Simo is a South African National Research Foundation C-rated Scholar (as an established researcher) effective 1 January 2023. He serves on the Editorial Board of the German Law Journal, the African Journal of International Economic Law and the International Journal of Public Law and Policy. He is also a Contributing Editor of AfrononomicsLaw, a blog focusing on all aspects of international economic law relating to Africa and the Global South.
FR
Dr Regis Simo est enseignant-chercheur en droit du commerce international à l’Université Queen’s de Belfast. Ses recherches portent sur le droit international, le droit économique international, le droit et le développement et le droit (économique) de l’Union africaine. En septembre 2022, il a été nommé représentant du UK Trade and Sustainable Development Domestic Advisory Group (UK TSD DAG) par le Department for International Trade (DIT) du Royaume-Uni. Le Dr Simo est depuis le 1er janvier 2023 reconnu comme un chercheur confirmé de catégorie C selon les critères d’évaluation des chercheurs de la National Research Foundation (NRF) de l’Afrique du Sud. Il siège au comité de rédaction de la German Law Journal, de l’African Journal of International Economic Law et de l’International Journal of Public Law and Policy. Il est également contributeur à AfrononnomicsLaw, un blog consacré à tous les aspects du droit économique international relatifs à l’Afrique et aux pays du Sud.
2. Chairperson, Advisory Board of the AfIELN
As of January 1, 2025, Dr. Titilayo Adebola, was appointed and approved as the new Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the AfIELN. Dr. Adebola was the immediate past President of the AfIELN. More about her here.
Dr. Adebola succeeds Professor Olabisi D. Akinkugbe was was appointed as Executive Vice President of the Society of International Economic Law in December 2024. Professor Akinkugbe served as the Inaugural Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the AfIELN from 2020-2024. He previously served as the AfIELN Present from 2018 - 2020.
3. Thank You
Over the past two years, Dr. Adebola and her Team have undertaken the first of its type activities for our AfIELN. In 2023 and 2024, they hosted two conference back-to-back in Ghana and Tanzania. To their credit, we have a completed AfIELN website also. Both conferences were a huge success. The rationale for the 2024 ("bridge") conference was to bring the conference calendar out of sync and avoid conflict with the Society of International Economic Law Biennial conference.
We thank our all-star team: Dr. Adebola, Dr. Tsotang Tsietsi, and Dr. Suzzie Oyakhire for their excellent service. In addition, our thanks go to Dr. Regis Simo and Dr. Harrison Mbori who were Conference Planning Chair and Editor-in-Chief respectively.
Our thanks also goes to Professor Akinkugbe, as one of the Advisory Board members noted: "your stewardship over the years has been exemplary. You have not only strengthened the network but also shaped its identity as a hub of excellence and collaboration. Your contributions leave a lasting legacy, and I wish you all the best in your new role as Executive Vice-President of SIEL."