Haramaya University College of Law Competes in Prestigious African Human Rights Moot Court
Haramaya University College of Law is proudly representing Ethiopia at the 34th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, currently underway at the University of Cape Town.
The prestigious event, organized by the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, brings together top law students from across the continent to engage with critical human rights issues.
Haramaya University’s moot court team comprises fifth-year LL.B. students Ms. Mahder Endeshaw Berhanu and Mr. Esayas Serbesa Chala, expertly coached by Lecturer of Law, Mr. Nuru Beyene Asebo. The competition, running from June 29 to July 5, 2025, serves as Africa’s largest annual gathering of students, academics, and judges focused on human rights.
Dr. Richard Wentzil, Dean of the College of Law at Haramaya University, highlighted the significance of the event. “This annual competition gathers all law faculties in Africa, with their brightest students arguing a hypothetical human rights case as if they were before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” he explained. Since its inception, over 183 universities from 47 African countries have participated.
This year, 61 teams from 18 African nations are competing. Notably, Haramaya University College of Law holds the unique distinction of being the only university in Africa to have participated in the moot for 16 consecutive years, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to human rights education.
The hypothetical case for the 34th edition delves into complex issues surrounding migration and human rights, statelessness, and civil and political rights. The students have dedicated months to preparing their written memorials and forfeited their summer break to hone their oral arguments. Their profound commitment to academic excellence and their ambition to represent Ethiopia with distinction on an international stage are truly commendable.
The College of Law extends its best wishes to the team, confident they will make Haramaya University proud. The college also expresses its sincere gratitude to the university’s top management for their continuous support of such vital extra-curricular experiential learning opportunities.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate