Case Details

Alain Francois V. Goetz and Aldabra Limited v. Republic of Rwanda (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/48)

Subject of Dispute:

Gold Mining Refinery
Economic Sector:

Oil, Gas & Mining
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Rwanda - Belgium-Luxembourg 1983, BIT Rwanda - United Arab Emirates 2017
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Alain Francois V. Goetz (Belgian), Aldabra Limited (Emiri)
Date Registered:

November 1, 2024
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

August 20, 2025

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Abdulqawi Ahmed YUSUF (Somali) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council
Arbitrators:

Wolfgang PETER (Swiss) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Mohamed S. ABDEL WAHAB (Egyptian) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Initial Composition of Tribunal

President:

Stanimir A. ALEXANDROV (Bulgarian) - Appointed by the Parties
Arbitrators:

Wolfgang PETER (Swiss) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Mohamed S. ABDEL WAHAB (Egyptian) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)
Reconstituted:

January 6, 2026: Abdulqawi Ahmed YUSUF (Somali) appointed following the resignation of Stanimir A. ALEXANDROV (Bulgarian)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Savoie Arbitration, Paris, France
Respondent(s):

ArentFox Schiff, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
President of the Republic of Rwanda
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Ministry of Justice
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

January 6, 2026 - The Tribunal is reconstituted. Its members are: Abdulqawi A. Yusuf (Somali), President, appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council; Wolfgang Peter (Swiss), appointed by the Claimants; and Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab (Egyptian), appointed by the Respondent.

No References Available.

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
November 1, 2024	The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
January 2, 2025	Following appointment by the Claimants, Wolfgang Peter (Swiss) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
February 14, 2025	Following appointment by the Respondent, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, (Egyptian) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
March 4, 2025	The proceeding is suspended for non-payment of the required advances pursuant to ICSID Administrative and Financial Regulation 16(2)(b).
May 20, 2025	The proceeding is resumed following payment of the required advances.
August 20, 2025	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(b) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Stanimir A. Alexandrov (Bulgarian), President, appointed by agreement of the Parties; Wolfgang Peter (Swiss), appointed by the Claimants; and Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab (Egyptian), appointed by the Respondent.
August 20, 2025	Following appointment by agreement of the Parties, Stanimir A. Alexandrov (Bulgarian) accepts his appointment as presiding arbitrator.
September 15, 2025	Following the resignation of arbitrator Stanimir A. Alexandrov, the Secretary-General notifies the parties of the vacancy on the Tribunal and the proceeding is suspended pursuant to ICSID Arbitration Rule 26(2).
January 6, 2026	Following the resignation of arbitrator Stanimir Alexandrov, Abdulqawi A. Yusuf (Somali) accepts his appointment as President of the Tribunal, appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council in accordance with ICSID Arbitration Rule 26(3)(b).
January 6, 2026	The Tribunal is reconstituted. Its members are: Abdulqawi A. Yusuf (Somali), President, appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council; Wolfgang Peter (Swiss), appointed by the Claimants; and Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab (Egyptian), appointed by the Respondent.