The Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) visited our Dakar office to discuss key developments in arbitration and dispute resolution. Elected Secretary-General in 2024, Martina Polasek was joined by Senior Legal Counsel Aissatou Diop, who has been with ICSID since 2008.

During their visit, Polasek and Diop met with our team and leading arbitration practitioners from Senegal and across the African region for a valuable exchange on the evolving landscape and future of international dispute resolution.

In a brief address, the Secretary-General highlighted her commitment to strengthening relationships with African ICSID member states and increasing the involvement of African practitioners in ICSID cases. Her emphasis on regional collaboration and capacity-building resonates with our mission to advance high-quality arbitration practices across the continent.

“African jurisdictions are central to our strategy for a stronger, more diverse ICSID arbitration ecosystem,” Polasek said. “Expanding African participation not only enriches proceedings but also strengthens legitimacy and access to justice across the continent.”

On behalf of the Senegalese members of the ICSID panel, Mouhamed KEBE, Managing Partner of GENI & KEBE, extended heartfelt thanks to Polasek for her leadership and commitment.

“As African practitioners, we are dedicated to working alongside ICSID to advance diversity, inclusion, and robust collaboration across African jurisdictions,” Kebe said.

The visit covered various topics, including:

• strengthening ties through deeper collaboration with African jurisdictions within the ICSID network;
• capacity-building initiatives aimed at encouraging greater participation of African practitioners in ICSID proceedings; and
• fostering community and dialogue through meaningful exchanges among arbitration professionals.

“The firm thanks the ICSID Secretariat for the insightful discussions and for recognizing the pivotal role Africa plays in the global arbitration landscape,” Kebe said. “We look forward to continued collaboration, knowledge exchange, and opportunities to contribute alongside ICSID to a robust, fair, and inclusive dispute resolution ecosystem.”