Zeray Yihdego Livres

This first volume of EtYIL addresses issues pertinent to the developing world, with a specific focus on Africa and Ethiopia. It emphasizes the urgent need to rebalance the international law narrative to reflect Africa’s legitimate interests, achievable only through fair representation of African nations in the creation and interpretation of international law. The book begins with reflections on the ICJ’s West African Cases, offering a unique perspective on decolonization as a source of jus cogens and obligations erga omnes. It provides a thorough analysis of how international law is received within the Ethiopian legal system and explores the implications of Ethiopia's potential WTO membership. Additionally, it examines the interplay between natural resource competition and international investment law, the UN Global Goals, and the emerging international climate change regime, particularly the Paris Climate Agreement and its effects on developing countries. Other topics include the Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam among Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, in the context of Nile colonial treaties and contemporary international watercourses law, as well as selected legal implications of the armed conflict in South Sudan. This volume gathers high-quality scholarship from diverse researchers, addressing critical international law issues impacting developing countries, especially in Africa.

The second volume of EtYIL advances its mission to rebalance the narrative of international law, featuring scholarly contributions on pressing issues relevant to Ethiopia, its sub-region, and Africa. Key topics include the relationship between national and international law in promoting and regulating foreign direct investment in Ethiopia; the regulatory framework for petroleum resource exploitation and associated arbitral jurisprudence; and the role of international law in the equitable sharing of transboundary resources, such as the Nile's waters, as well as in regional continental shelf delimitation. The volume also examines efforts to establish the Continental Free Trade Area in Africa, drawing lessons from previous experiences; Africa's stance on the International Criminal Court and alternative justice mechanisms for grave crimes; and the UN's peacekeeping operations within a North-South context. These contributions address critical political, diplomatic, and judicial issues, promising to influence the future of international law in the region and beyond. This volume not only furthers EtYIL’s mission but also introduces fresh insights from perspectives often overlooked in international law scholarship.