Bilateral Investment Treaties and Regional Investment Regulation in Africa: Towards an African Continental Investment Area?

This chapter addresses the issue of international investment regulation with a bearing on Africa. It reviews the bilateral investment treaties (BITs) which have been signed by African countries, and characterizes intra-African BITs. It also discusses regional investment regulation in the continent and its elements for harmonizing the cluttered “spaghetti-bowl” of investment regimes. Based on the findings and the existing regional integration agenda on investment, the chapter discusses the viability of an African Continental Investment Area as an alternative to the existing investment regime, in favour of a more harmonized and developmental approach that builds on existing institutions and processes.