Excitement builds for ICC Arbitration and ADR Days as key stakeholders and industry leaders set to gather for GC Forum and Mining Indaba

Africa’s increasing prominence within ICC dispute resolution frameworks is unmistakeable, and the ICC South Africa Arbitration and ADR Days have over successive recent years evolved to reflect “the growing sophistication and importance of international arbitration and ADR in supporting cross-border commercial activities,” says international ADR expert Nwamara Inegbenoise. 

The 2026 programme, the third edition of ICC South Africa Arbitration and ADR Days, features an ICC Training on International Commercial Arbitration with the Law Society of South Africa in Johannesburg on 6 February; ICC Young Arbitration and ADR Forum (YAAF) events in Johannesburg on 6 February and Cape Town on 10 February, alongside ICC’s participation at GC Forum Extractives and Mining Indaba. 

“What excites me most about the 2026 edition is the way it brings users and practitioners together in settings designed to encourage considered, experience-led discussion, informed by the realities of cross-border commercial activity,” says Inegbenoise, the Deputy Director, Arbitration and ADR, Africa for ICC Dispute Resolution Services in Paris, where she support strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening dispute resolution frameworks across the continent and enhancing Africa’s engagement with the global arbitration and ADR community.

This year’s combination of advanced arbitration training, ICC YAAF sessions, exclusive in‑house roundtables, and the carefully curated GC Forum Extractives during the Mining Indaba reflects ICC’s broader approach in Africa, says Inegbenoise, pairing capacity‑building with direct engagement of commercial decision‑makers who structure transactions, manage risk, and oversee disputes.

Claudia Salomon, President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, is travelling to South Africa this month, and will appear on an expert panel at the GC Forum Extractives in Cape Town on 11 February, discussing “Law, Leadership & Collaboration: Building Resilient Frameworks for Growth”. Chaired by international arbitration expert Liz Snodgrass of Three Crowns LLP, Salomon’s fellow panelists include: Jamie Doyle, Head of Legal & Commercial, Africa at Perenti Group; Bianca Déprés, General Counsel of Resolute Mining Limited; Abdoul Karim Kabèlè Camara, Vice-President Government and External Affairs at Fortuna Mining Corporation.

“At a time when cross-border disputes are becoming more complex, the ICC South Africa Arbitration and ADR Days programme, including their involvement with the GC Forum, highlights South Africa’s growing role in international arbitration, with a focus on procedural discipline, transparency, and effective dispute management,” says Africa Legal CEO Scott Cowan. “We look forward to supporting a week of practical, globally aligned discussion with leading international practitioners.”

Private and public sector leaders, engineers, lawyers, in-house counsel, and young practitioners are encouraged to attend ICC South Africa Arbitration and ADR Days.

Africa’s growing prominence in international ADR is reflected in both user confidence and meaningful institutional milestones, says Inegbenoise. She notes that in the ICC’s latest statistics, parties from 31 African countries featured across the caseload, highlighting the breadth and diversity of Africa’s engagement

“In December 2025, the ICC International Court of Arbitration registered its 30,000th case, which interestingly involved African parties, an important marker of the continent’s position within the global arbitration ecosystem, and a reflection of the continued confidence African users place in ICC dispute resolution services.”

Taken together, the suite of upcoming events and engagements for ICC South Africa Arbitration and ADR Days will “deepen the understanding of international arbitration and ADR as practical tools that support stable, enforceable outcomes in cross‑border business across the continent,” says Inegbenoise.

Africa Legal is proud to support the 3rd edition of the ICC South Africa Arbitration and ADR Days as a partner. For more information on this year’s events, including registration, visit here.