The 20th Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition was successfully concluded at the recent International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Cape Town, South Africa, 3-7 October 2011. In doing so, the competition was once more confirmed as the only moot court competition on issues of space law which is globally recognized and enjoys broad participation.

The World Finals on October 6, judged as always by three Judges from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Judge Koroma, Judge Tomka and Judge Xue, resulted in a victory of the team of Florida State University, winner of the North-American round, over the team of the National University of Singapore, winner of the Asia-Pacific round. The University of Saint Petersburg, winner of the European round, finished third in the competition, in which overall 42 teams participated.

In addition, an African Introductory Round was held with three teams participating, from Mount Kenya University of Nairobi, Kenya; Obafemi Awolowo University of Ile-Ife, Nigeria: and the University of Pretoria, South Africa. The team from Obafemi Awolowo University emerged as the winner.

The success of the African Introductory Round also meant that as of the current academic year, an official fourth preliminary round will be organised in Africa. As the newly appointed organiser of the African Regional Round, Mrs Lulekwa Makapela of the South African Department of Trade and Industry, stated: �This is a platform which we can run with enthusiasm and conviction and without reservation but with only one obligation, to devote every effort to make it a success.�