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AbstractThis article addresses an important and complex subject relating to the link between international law and economic development. There is broad agreement that trade liberalization and participation in foreign markets play an important role in economic development. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have generally pursued a liberalization route over the past two decades, but their economic performance has been deeply disappointing. In this article, we look at seven countries in the Horn of Africa and examine, from legal and institutional perspectives, the central question of why these countries have failed to translate their comparative advantage, particularly in the livestock sector, into meaningful trade-led economic growth. In order to answer this question, we have reviewed the relevant legal and policy instruments and the literature, visited five of the seven countries, and interviewed different players in the livestock value chain. Analysis of the evidence reveals that the main impediments to trade relate to rising sanitary import requirements in foreign markets and weak institutional capacity within the Horn. The limited technical and financial resources available to these countries also reduce their capacity to meet these standards. Meaningful institutional change requires substantial involvement of local actors and it takes place incrementally and over the long term. International law can play a role in this process by promoting the rule of law and tackling corruption, facilitating capacity-building, and encouraging regional integration.

Part I – Introduction: Towards a Global Order based on Principles of Fairness, Solidarity, and Humanity by Zeray Yihdego, Melaku Desta, Martha Belete Hailu -- Part II – Articles: Rules-Based International Cooperation During a Global Pandemic: the Covid-19 Crisis and Trade Law Lessons for Africa by Melaku Geboye Desta -- Africa, COVID-19, and International Law: From Hegemonic Priority to the Geopolitical Periphery? by David P. Fidler -- The Right to Cross-border Identity of Individuals with Eritrean and Ethiopian Ancestry: International and Comparative Law Perspectives by Daniel Mekonnen -- Ethiopia and Eritrea: A New Relationship Based upon Treaty Obligations, International Law and Mutual Trust by Don Picard and Zeray Yihdego -- The 2000 Algiers Agreement and the 2018 Asmara/Jeddah Peace Agreements between Eritrea and Ethiopia: Continuity or a New Beginning? by Senai W. Andemariam and Isaias T. Berhe -- A Drop in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Djibouti Signs the ICSID Convention by Olaoye Kehinde Folake -- Beloved Pan-Africanism: Martin Luther King's Stride Toward Africa, International Human Rights and The Black International Tradition by Jeremy I. Levitt -- Africa and the Regulation of Transnational Arms Brokering: Challenges to Implement International Standards by Brian Wood and Peter Danssaert -- The Responsibility of the UN Security Council for Climate Security by Shirley V. Scott and Christopher Kaindi -- Part III – Book Review: Philippe Cullet and Sujith Koonan (eds.): Research Handbook on Law, Environment, and the Global South by Daria Shapovalova -- Part IV – Commentary: Trilateral Negotiations over a Dam on the Blue Nile: U.S. Meddling and the 'Role' of the UN Security Council by Zeray Yihdego -- Documents reprinted: Three Statements and Three letters and Executive Summary of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. .