Haramaya University Law Students Triumph in National Moot Court Competition, Earn Spot at International Finals
Haramaya University’s College of Law has emerged victorious in the Ethiopian National Rounds of the prestigious 2025 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, securing their place at the international finals in Washington, D.C.
A team of four LL.B students – Esayas Serbessa, Abdurezak Nebi, Ayantu Adugna, and Mahder Birhanu – outperformed competitors from across Ethiopia to claim the top spot at the national competition, held at St. Mary’s University in Addis Ababa from February 1-2, 2025. They were coached by Mr. Wendmeneh Beyene Taye, Lecturer of Laws, and Mr. Habtamu Siwaya, Assistant Lecturer of Laws.
The Jessup, the world’s largest and most prestigious moot court competition, sees participation from approximately 700 law schools in 100 countries. It challenges students to tackle complex issues of public international law through written memorials and oral arguments, simulating proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The competition revolves around a fictional legal dispute between nations, outlined in a document called the “Compromis.”
This year, only four Ethiopian universities – Addis Ababa University, Bahir Dar University, Hawassa University, and Haramaya University – qualified for the national rounds. The final winner was determined by a combined score from the written memorials and oral arguments.
Dr. Richard Wentzel, Dean of the College of Law at Haramaya University, praised the students’ exceptional skills in legal research, writing, and oral advocacy.
The Jessup is an incredibly time-consuming extracurricular activity, requiring significant sacrifice and dedication, Dr. Richard noted. “Our students’ hard work, academic prowess, and commitment have been truly inspiring. We also extend our sincere gratitude to their coaches for their tireless support.”
The Haramaya University team will now represent Ethiopia at the Jessup 2025 White & Case International Rounds in Washington, D.C., from March 29 to April 5, 2025. The entire Haramaya University community wishes them the best of luck as they prepare to compete on the world stage.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate