Case Details

Sarama Resources Ltd v. Burkina Faso (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/51)

Subject of Dispute:

Gold mining
Economic Sector:

Oil, Gas & Mining
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Burkina Faso - Canada 2015
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Sarama Resources Ltd (Canadian)
Respondent(s):

Burkina Faso (Burkinabe)
Date Registered:

December 23, 2024
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

June 23, 2025

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Albert Jan VAN DEN BERG (Dutch) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council
Arbitrators:

John BEECHEY (British) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Nassib G. ZIADÉ (Chilean, Lebanese) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Boies Schiller Flexner, London, U.K. and New York, NY, U.S.A.
Respondent(s):

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, London, UK, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. and Dubai, UAE
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English,French
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

May 22, 2026 - The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning production of documents.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Procedural Order No. 1

Procedural Order No. 2

Claimant’s Memorial on the Merits

Available on the ICSID Website

Procedural Order No. 1 (September 17, 2025) English (Original); French (Original)

Procedural Order No. 2 (September 18, 2025) English (Original); French (Original)

Claimant’s Memorial on the Merits (October 31, 2025) English (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
December 23, 2024	The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
February 26, 2025	Following appointment by the Claimant, John Beechey (British) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
June 18, 2025	Following appointment by the Chair of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention, Nassib Ziadé (Chilean/Lebanese) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
June 20, 2025	Following appointment by the Chair of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention, Albert Jan van den Berg (Dutch) accepts his appointment as presiding arbitrator.
June 23, 2025	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37 (2)(b) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are Albert Jan van den Berg (Dutch), President, appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council, in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention; John Beechey (British), appointed by Claimant; and Nassib Ziadé (Chilean/Lebanese), appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council, in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention.
July 25, 2025	The Tribunal holds a first session by video conference.
September 17, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
September 18, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning transparency and confidentiality.
October 31, 2025	The Claimant files a memorial on the merits.
March 31, 2026	The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits.
May 8, 2026	Following exchanges between the parties, each party files a request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
May 22, 2026	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning production of documents.