The African Association of International Law (AAIL), one of the first academic societies on the continent of Africa in the field of international law, was established in 1986 by the leading international lawyers on the continent.
Its objectives, as stated in its Statute, are:
- To foster the development and dissemination of African perspectives and practices of international law, in particular through the publication of an African Yearbook of International Law;
- To assist in the development of international law, recognizing the special needs of Africa; and
- To promote the teaching of international law in Africa, and to encourage and coordinate research on international law mainly through the establishment of research and study groups on specific themes of relevance to Africa.
While the first volume of the African Yearbook of International Law was published in 1993 and has continued to be published under the auspices of the African Foundation of International Law (AFIL) established in 2003, the AAIL had been dormant for a period of time. On October 6 2012, at the Maputo Conference of the AFIL, the General Conference of the AAIL reactivated the Association, adopted a number of modifications to its Statute and elected a new Executive Committee to coordinate the activities of the AAIL.
The Executive Committee has commenced its activities, and welcomes applications for membership of the AAIL. Individuals and African law or international law societies are eligible for membership upon payment of applicable membership dues as will be determined by the Executive Committee of the Association. Additional categories of membership may be established by the Executive Committee.