Course 2025-2026 a.y.

1. Foundations: Africa’s Economic and Legal Landscape
2. African Law(s) and Legal Pluralism
3. Regional Integration and Harmonisation
4. Comparative African Business Law
5. International Investment Law and Arbitration in Africa
6. Africa in Global Value Chains and Strategic Industry Developments

• understand the foundational economic, institutional and legal features of African markets;
• recognise the pluralistic nature of African legal systems and their relevance for business and investment operations;
• describe the structure, objectives and implications of regional and continental integration processes, including AfCFTA and other African regional organisations;
• understand the main principles and current developments in international investment law and arbitration involving African states;
• acquire a practical understanding of the main trends and issues in the African market through interaction with African and non-African experts from both the public and private sector (including policy makers, in-house counsels, law firms, NGOs).

• identify and assess legal and business issues arising in cross-border operations involving African jurisdictions;
• apply concepts discussed in class to factual scenarios through case analyses, simulations and practical exercises;
• evaluate opportunities and challenges associated with African regional integration, regulatory reforms and investment frameworks;
• critically analyse the interaction between African domestic legal systems, supranational initiatives and international economic law.

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Practical Exercises
• Interaction/Gamification
• Competitions/Hackathons

In addition to face-to-face lectures, primarily held in the first part of the course, the learning experience includes interactive class activities designed to promote active participation in discussions, both in class and within designated groups. These activities aim to stimulate original contributions and ideas. Throughout the course, students are strongly encouraged to share their views, insights, and research on their preferred topics and trends, engaging in critical writings and presentations. 

The course also features guest speakers, including leading Italian, European, and African experts, who will share their experiences as scholars, attorneys (in law firms or as in-house counsel), advisors, businessmen, and policymakers. These talks will provide insights into the interaction between economic activities and law, as well as trends and the future of Western-African interactions. 

Additionally, the course includes visits to major law firms, companies and national and international institutions, offering opportunities to network with leading professionals in the African sector and explore career opportunities (list of guests’ talk, seminars and entities will be provided in due course).

Attending students can take an intermediate and an end-of-semester exam. 

As to the intermediate exam, there will be a forty-five-minute long written exam. No internet access is allowed, and students are not allowed to consult any books or notes. 

In terms of exam format: there will be five multiple-choice questions, each bearing 1 (one) point, and two open-ended questions, each bearing 5 (five) points. 

As to the end-of-semester exam, there will be an oral exam. The maximum score is 15 points. 

The programme of each partial exam for attending students will be communicated in class. 

The purpose of the written and oral exams is to examine students' ability to critically understand the notions discussed during the course, spot legal  and business issues from a set of facts and apply the law to factual scenarios. 

There will be up to five bonus points that students can earn throughout the course through interactive activities and attendance to guest lectures and seminars. 

Non-attending students must take a general exam. 

In terms of exam format: there will be an oral exam. 

The oral exam aims to examine students' ability to critically understand the data, statutory laws and notions discussed during the course, spot legal issues from a set of facts and apply the law to factual scenarios. 

The list of readings and multimedia materials (such as mind maps and PPT presentations) will be communicated during the course.