A major African business law forum will be held in Abidjan on May 26, 2025. Organized around the theme “Resourcing the ALSF to Empower Africa’s Sustainable Development,” the event will bring together political leaders, legal experts, donors, and international institutions.
Objectives and Context
This forum aims to rethink the legal autonomy of the African continent, particularly in the area of business law, at a time when African states are seeking to:
- Secure their contracts
- Negotiate more effectively with investors
- Strengthen their capacity to defend their economic interests
The initiative is supported by the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), a key instrument created to help African countries better negotiate contracts, restructure their debts, and manage complex partnerships, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors.
Announced Participants
Prominent figures are expected to attend, including:
- Akinwumi Adesina (President of the African Development Bank)
- Claver Gatete (Executive Secretary of the ECA)
- Thabo Mbeki (Former President of South Africa)
- Sahle-Work Zewde (President of Ethiopia)
Issues and Themes
The forum will address three major areas:
- Sustainability of ALSF financing
- Good contractual governance
- Legal issues related to sustainable development
Specific themes include:
- Environmental clauses in mining contracts
- Oil production sharing mechanisms
- The role of law in the energy transition
Strategic Importance
The holding of this forum in Abidjan coincides with the AfDB Annual Meetings and a period of major institutional strengthening for the region. The event takes place against a backdrop of increasing litigation and increasingly complex contractual negotiations. This underscores the need for African states to have adequate human and institutional resources to defend their legal and economic sovereignty.
This meeting should mark a turning point in the discussion on African legal sovereignty and the ability of states to structure complex transactions while avoiding the pitfalls of unsustainable debt.
