The Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC), in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung under its Flight and Migration Competence Center project line and Hawassa University-College of Law and Governance Studies, is organizing the 2022 National Refugee Law Moot Court competition.
About Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Flight and Migration Competence Center Project line
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Flight and Migration Competence Center Project line (FES-FMCC) was established to improve the migration dialogue between Africa and Europe and create a platform for fact-based discussions. Through evidence-based research and consultations with concerned stakeholders, the FMCC program hopes to coordinate and strategically align the work of FES along with the issue of flight and migration on the African continent. Furthermore, the center hopes to promote and echo African voices in the global migration discourse. The aim is to not only balance the existing narrative around the discourse but to also be a part of the holistic and pragmatic approaches being taken to address the concerns surrounding migration.
National Refugee Law Moot Court Competition 2022
The competition will bring together university students and academicians across Ethiopia towards a case-based competition, allowing participants to dissect emerging trends and relevant international and regional legal frameworks on refugees, allowing for the exploration of the refugee phenomena from a legal, analytical point of view.
The competition will also engage the youth and the academic community by creating awareness and cultivating interest in future practitioners. The oral round is scheduled to be held in Hawassa University from May 12th – May 14th, 2022, after teams have submitted the memorials and the top eight teams have been selected. Thus far, seventeen universities from across the country have submitted their memorials as both an applicant and as respondents
With the aim of preparing the teams for the oral round, the CSRC and its partners have organized three online workshops (Monday, 11th April, 2022, Wednesday, 13th April, 2022 and Friday, 15th April, 2022) that will provide participants with an overview of relevant mooting skills.
Meet the teams
(Winners) Addis Ababa University
Coach Jetu Edosa
My name is Jetu Edosa Chewaka, and I am coaching the team from Addis Ababa University.
Participation in such national moot court competitions serves as an additional learning opportunity for our students to develop their legal knowledge and skill on topical issues of national and international importance.
I hope our students will learn and share their experiences with other participants. The performance of our students in the competition will be used to showcase the quality of a legal education delivered at our law school. We are well prepared and expect our team can win a fair and just competition.
Yordanos Nega
My name is Yordanos Nega, I’m a student at the University of Addis Ababa, Class of 2023.
The main reason I chose to participate in the Moot Court Competition was to enrich my research and lawyering skills.
I expect this competition to benefit me by granting me court room experience/exposure. I also hope this experience grows my network in the legal professional world, which is something I always strive to do.
I have an interest in law, gender equality and active youth participation.
Bethlehem Getaneh
My name is Bethlehem Getaneh and I am a 5fh year at Addis Ababa University.
I want to particpate in the Moot Court Competition to test my oratory skills and to gain this experience before graduating.
I expect a fair judgement, an informative boot camp and well organized logistics.
I personally want to specialize in international refugee law.
Yohannes Shimelis
My name is Yohannes Shimelis and I am a 5th year at Addis Ababa University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because I have a special interest in refugee rights. I also want to build my capacity for writing and public speaking.
I expect to develop my communication skills and to gain an experience on refugee law concepts.
Personally, I have a special interest in refugee law.
Arba Minch University
(First Runner-up/Best Memorial)
Coach Surafel Demelash
My name is Surafel Demelash, I’m coaching the team from Arba Minch University.
I want to participate in the moot court competition, as it highly assists in the engagement with refugee law, and allows students to think deeply when regarding the legal frameworks governing refugees. It will also let our students learn from the procedure.
The primary aim is to develop our familiarity over the legal framework governing refugee’s both at the early stage of memorial preparation and during the oral advocacy rounds. As a coach I expect my student’s to win the competition.
During my stay, I hope to share and gain the best experience from other universities and improve my coaching methods accordingly, for future competitions.
Mekdelawit Fekade
My name is Mekdelawit Fekade and I am a 3rd year at Arba Minch University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because it provides an opportunity for me to build advocacy skills, sharpen my public speaking skills, and engage me in legal analysis in a variety of areas of law.
I think it will be a specialised application of the art of persuasive advocacy.and will be an opportunity to engage myself with and think deeply about interesting and topical legal issues that will increase my confidence and allow me to learn from my peers.
My goal is to become a lawyer and an influencial diplomat.
Fikade Shume
My name is Fikade Shume and I am coming from Arba Minch University
I want to particpate in the Moot Court Competition in order to develop court room skills.
I expect to gain practical knowledge and to develop my mooting skills by participating in the moot court competition.
My main goal/interest is to aquire relevant knowledge from this experience.
Besufkad Tadesse
My name is Besufkad Tadesse and I am coming from Arba Minch University.
I want to particpate in the Moot Court Competition because mooting can give me skills of interpretation and presentation, along with the ability to develop arguments and to work in teams.
I expect to improve my advocacy, legal research and writing skills and to work closely with my peers.
I’m interested in mooting because it can play a constructive role in providing or enhancing my job chances.
Arsi University
(Second Runner-up)
Coach Abera Lemi
My name is Abera Lemi and I am coaching the team from Arsi University.
As a professor, I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to know how much my aspiration to produce reflective lawyers is successful.
My previous job (as a judge) had been sorely isolating, and this event will provide me with the opportunity to meet many lawyers and expanding my professional network. Moreover, I believe that by the end of this competition, my coaching skills will have improved.
It will be my pleasure to mentor a strong team in this competition. Winning the competition would be fantastic if possible.
Bontu Mulugeta(Best Oralist)
My name is Bontu Mulugeta, and I’m coming from the Arsi University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because this is a chance to harness my competitive nature and experience what type of advocators are out there: I want to challenge myself.
Apart from winning the competition and best oralist, I hope I will be able to expand my network and be able to consistently keep up with the connections that I have made. I also look forward to meeting extraordinary people who can change my course of life.
I like learning new skills, explore how I will be able to use them in my everyday life and advance my way of thinknig.
Ebisa Jambare
My name is Ebisa Jambare and I’m a 4th year Law student at Arsi University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition mainly because I want to be a good arguer and competitor for my clients by improving my own writing and oral communication skills.
I hope to get an experience on court litigation and the system of interpretation of law. I expect the Arsi team to win this competition with our best effort. ]\
My extreme personal interest and hope is to see the democratic rule of our country in which human rights are respected and maintained and we see peace and development.
Ashenafi Simegn
My name is Ashenafi Simegn and I’m coming from Arsi University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to know how the law actually operates, to understand the policies and procedures followed in court and to have a network of fellow students, judges and organizers.
I hope to know my strengths and weaknesses on oral advocacy, to develop my quick thinking ability to answer questions raised by judges and rebutting skills, to boost my confidence levels and argumentation skills, to be good in my analytic, research and writing skills, as these are basic skills required to be the best advocator.
I am eager to specialise on the field of human rights and being advocator for the full realization of those basic inviolable rights.
Dilla University
Coach Zelalem Kabu
My name is Zelalem Kebu, I am coaching the team from Dilla University.
I am participating in the Moot Court Competition to train the mooters towards winning the competition and enable them to derive the best mooting skills.
As refugee law is a new area for moot court competitions, I expect some novel skills and contentions. Besides, I hope the team I am coaching will win the competition. I also hope to meet people from various backgrounds and grow my network.
My personal interests include volunteering and community involvement, and preparing various academic writings.
Hemin Solomon
My name is Hemin Solomon, I’m a 3rd year from Dilla University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition becuase it is a good opportunity to gain experience, and help me develop my language skills.
I expect to meet new people that will encourage me to do more in my future profession.
Birhanu Abebe
My name is Birhanu Abebe and I am coming from Dilla University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because I want to acquire practical experience and substantiate my knowledge of refugee law practically.
I hope to win the competition as a team and for the best orator individually.
Fasil Siyoum
My name is Fasil Siyoum and I am in the 2017 Batch at Dilla University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because I want to apply what I have learned theoretically in practice and expand my knowledge on refugee law.
My expectation from the competition is that my knowledge in the field and my oral skills will increase. I will share a lot of knowledge with my colleagues from other universities and I hope that I will be the finalist winner of the moot court competition.
I am interested in volunteer work and community involvement.
Haramaya University
Coach Dawit Gudeta
My name is Dawit Gudeta, I am coaching the team from Haramaya University.
I am participating in the Moot Court Competition because it is the best platform where legal professionals can develop researching and arguing skills on both sides of a case.
I expect students to learn new dimensions and jurisprudences of refugee laws. Further, I hope that robust relationships will be created among academicians, practitioners, and students in order for them to use the platform to share experiences and opportunities for their future work endeavors and pursuit of scholarships.
Fetiya Abu
My name is Fetiya Abu, and I am a 3rd year at Haramaya University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to become a good lawyer and be the best mooter.
I really hope to get an image of the court system that I am going to work in the future and how to analyze and how to analyze cases, and their solutions. I expect to win the moot court competition.
I really want to engage in more national/international moot court competitions to develop critical thinking skills and my confidence.
Habtamu Siwaya
My name is Habtamu Siwaya, I am a 4th year at Haramaya University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to advance my mooting skills, and because advocacy has always been an interest of mine.
Although I have been developing myself in terms of knowledge, I believe that this competition will give me the real-life hands-on experience of what it would be like in a courtroom. I expect to get that practical experience from this competition.
I am interested in becoming a human rights lawyer in the future, which is why I believe opportunities like this will pave the way.
Fufa Birhanu
My name is Fufa Birhanu and I am a 5th year at Haramaya University
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to become a good lawyer. Further, I believe mooting will acquaint me with practical skills in solving legal issues.
I trust that the competition will build my advocacy skills, public speaking, and research skills. and offer an opportunity to engage in legal analysis.
I am interested in striving for the protection of human rights and seeing my citizens live dignified lives. I enjoy researching various human rights related issues.
Hawassa University
Coach Befekadu Dereba
My name is Befekadu Dereba, I am coaching the team from Hawassa University.
Nowadays, the issue of refugees is a contemporary global issue. As the number of refugees increases globally, different legal issues and cases are also increasing. therefore giving special attention and filling a legal lacuna is very important. I participated in this competition to be a part of the solutions to refugee related problems.
I expect to explore the concept and share experiences and knowledge with other colleagues from different universities.
I have a special interest in human rights, humanitarian law, and refugee law.
Meskerem Ayalew
My name is Meskerem Ayalew, I am a 5th year at Hawassa University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because I am a final year student and I want a chance to explore skills and knowledge that will help me pursue law on a practical level.
My expectations for the competition are that we will be well aware of international and national refugee law and that I will get a chance to experience my future job which is being a voice for the voiceless. I also expect to raise my universities flag high.
I have a special interest in human rights, particularly socio-economic and cultural rights as it is a base for all other legal rights and obligations.
Bernabas Desseno
My name is Bernabas Desseno, and I am a 5th Year at Hawassa University.
There are many benefits to participating in the Moot Court Competition, such as enhancing one’s public speaking kills and becoming an orator.
I believe I will benefit from participating in the Moot Court Competition. As this is a national competition, I expect to meet other students where we can help each other in the future.
Since joining Hawassa University, I have had a keen interest in arguing on legal issues and now I have a chance to build my interest further.
Usman Hussen
My name is Usman Hussen and I am a 5th year at Haramaya University
I have wanted to participate in a Moot Court Competition since I was a 1st year when Hawassa University was the winner of the National Moot Court Competition hosted in Tanzania in 2017, where we represented Ethiopia. Further, as this is not my first moot court experience, I hope it will help me upgrade my skills.
I hope to win this competition. I believe me and my teammates have prepared well for the competition and I expect to win the final tribunal.
As a graduating student, I am interested in working for an institution advocating for refugees and asylum seekers.
Jimma University
Coach Firaol Tafese
My name is Firaol Tafese, I am coaching the team from Jimma University.
I am interested in participating in this specific Moot Court Competition mainly because the theme is timely and a core problem we are facing as a country.
I hope and expect to get a sufficient understanding of the concept of refugees, refugee protection, refugee law, and the challenges in implementing the protections afforded to the refugee. More importantly, I expect to create a network of participants, and learn more about mooting and coaching moot participants.
As an academic, I have an interest in developing my professional knowledge and skills.
Ofijan Dula
My name is Ofijan Dula, I am a 4th year at Jimma University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because it is my way of practicing what I obtained and understood in the classroom.
I expect the challenge in oral advocacy from the side of the judge and opposing teams will improve my mooting skills. Furthermore, hopefully, I will create a network of other students from other universities.
I enjoy debates and discussions on issues of special interest to me.
Yared Deribe
My name is Yared Deribe, and I am a 4th year at Jimma University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because I want an opportunity to stand as a lawyer before a competent judge and opponent who have expert knowledge of the law.
We compete to win not to lose, so my hope is to win this competition. However, if we lose, I hope it will contribute to our knowledge of law and confidence to stand as a lawyer in the future. It will also give us an opportunity to learn from a variety of sources.
Bereka Reshid
My name is Bereka Reshid, and I am a 4th year at Jimma University
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to be able to compete with competent opponents to develop my mooting skills.
I believe this will be a memorable event and an opportunity to grow amongst other participants. I would also like to enhance my knowledge on refugee laws and engage in an exciting competition where I can build my public speaking skills.
I have a personal interest in human rights issues.
Oda Bultum University
Coach Kabtamu Niguse
My name is Kabtamu Niguse, I am coaching the team from Oda Bultum University School of Law.
I am interested in participating in this Moot Court Competition to let my students get exposure to the practical world of law and to test their past learning.
I hope this moot court competition will serve as the best forum for participants to gain more awareness of refugee laws and their practical application. I expect my team will win the medal. I want to see my students thriving in this competition.
Mestewat Zerihun
My name is Mestewat Zerihun I am a 4th year at OBU.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to gain new experiences and knowledge.
I hope to be successful in the competition and to learn more about moot court procedures and substantive law.
Ibsa Abdella
My name is Ibsa Abdella, and I am a 4th year at Oda Bultum University.
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition because I want to contribute to protecting refugee rights and engage in national and international justice to protect human rights, and this competition is an opportunity to learn how to achieve that goal.
I expect to win the competition and to develop my knowledge of the law. I hope to share experiences with my fellow participants and to develop skills I can utilize in my effort to represent future claimants.
Samuel Waktole
My name is Samuel Waktole, and I am a 4th year at Oda Bultum University
I want to participate in the Moot Court Competition to develop my research and pleading skills. I also hope to boost my confidence and grow my network of fellow law students.
I expect to learn more about mooting and to develop my oral argument skills. I expect our team to be successful and to exchange experiences and skills with fellow participants.