May 19, 2025
South Africa is proud to host the 16th African Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition from 22 – 23 May 2025 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. This prestigious international capacity-building initiative is organised under the auspices of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) under the theme ‘Africa Space Law for Global Solidarity and Equality’ that aligns with the objectives of the G20, being hosted by South Africa. The Event will have students from South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya competing for the regional award and the spot to represent the Continent in Australia later in the year.
The winning team from the Africa Region will advance to the World Finals, held annually during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), under the auspices of the IISL Annual Colloquium. In 2025, the IAC will take place in Sydney, Australia, from 29 September to 3 October, and will convene the largest gathering of global space agencies and industry experts. The World Finals are traditionally judged by three sitting Judges of the International Court of Justice, the highest judicial body of the United Nations.
The 2025 hypothetical space law dispute contains questions related to a Case Concerning “The Legality of Space Activities in Conflicts “with Admetus (Applicant) vs. Cronus (Respondent)
The Africa Round is hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in collaboration with The South African National Space Agency (SANSA), as the national agency responsible for implementation of space activities and supported by the National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat (NEOSS) an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), managed and hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
This international moot court competition provides a critical platform for students, academics, legal professionals, and the broader space community to engage in robust legal debates on contemporary issues in international space law. It offers a unique opportunity for law and science students from across Africa, and beyond, to explore legal challenges related to outer space, telecommunications, Earth observation, and aerospace.
The competition revolves around a hypothetical case that raises significant legal issues under international space law, adjudicated before an International Court of Justice. The Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court is divided into five regional rounds, Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and North America. The African Regional Round will be presided over by a panel of judges from Botswana, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa.
For more information contact
Ms. Nomfuneko Majaja
Chief Director and Africa Regional Coordinator
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
Head Secretariat SA Council for Space Affairs (SACSA)
