Africa's International Investment Law Regimes

Book excerpt: "Decolonization restored African states' sovereign independence. The post-colonial period was, however, characterized by major economic disruptions that resulted in chronically weakened economies. The newly independent African states faced a profound dilemma between economic liberalization and openness on the one hand, and the maintenance of regulatory autonomy on the other. Confronted with unrelenting poverty and inadequate infrastructure, African states needed direct foreign investment to boost their economies. However, most foreign investors were cautious about investing in African countries due to the perceived lack of clear and predictable legal regimes necessary to protect foreign investments from expropriation and other forms of harm"--