Kigali International Arbitration Centre launched

Rwanda's specialist commercial courts, established in 2008, have been highly praised by commentators and practitioners. However, due to their popularity, the courts have a backlog of cases and the court process remains slow. We have previously reported on the Rwandan Private Sector Federation's (PSF's) plans to open an international arbitration centre in its capital, Kigali (see Legal update, Rwanda to open international arbitration centre). It is hoped that the KIAC will provide an alternative dispute resolution framework to ease the burden on the courts, as well as providing a centre for the resolution of regional disputes.

KIAC's rules were drawn up by a panel of international experts, and are understood to combine the most effective aspects of the LCIA, ICC and SIAC rules.