Charles Boamah, Finance Vice-President, African Development Bank
The brief report made this morning by Mr. Mohammed Jmour, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) Vice President for Northern Africa, on the frustrations encountered in late 2010 in the efforts to organize this seminar in Tunis, gives special significance to the gathering here today. It is therefore appropriate that this event bringing together eminent lawyers from across North Africa - is taking place here in Tunis, at a time of celebration of the first Anniversary of the Arab Spring. We salute the efforts to ensure the rule of law, democratic transition and good governance and accountability efforts that hopefully will translate into an improved business climate, increased investments and more employment opportunities for the youth.
On behalf of the President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, I would once again like to thank the Government of Tunisia, the Pan African Legal Union and the African Legal Support Facility for making this seminar possible. We are keen to learn about the outcome of this seminar and about how we can, in working together, ensure that African countries optimize the resources with which they have been so richly endowed, for the maximum benefit of all their people.
As a member of the governing council of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), can you highlight some of the major achievements of the Facility since its inception?
Amongst other accomplishments, I would like to underscore that the management Board of ALSF has approved six projects to support African countries in the areas of vulture fund litigation; negotiations of a public/private projects agreement for a port concession; negotiations of concession agreements for five agriculture projects; capacity building on sovereign assets recovery; capacity building on managing and negotiating PPPs in the mining and energy sectors; and capacity building for African lawyers, on a sub-regional basis, on negotiation of complex commercial transactions and dealing with vulture funds. These were accomplished by ALSF in less than two years since it became operational. The list above is only a beginning. There is clearly continued and increasing demand from African countries for ALSF services evidence of the great wisdom on the part of those, including Mr. Kalidou Gadio, General Counsel of the African Development Bank, who worked tirelessly to create the ALSF. I wish all a very successful seminar.
Maîetre Chawki Tabib, avocat à la Cour et bâtonnier de Tunis
«Les avocats ont un rôle prépondérant dans le processus de développement et de libération de leur pays »
Nous sommes profondément africains. Il n'est point besoin de rappeler que le nom Afrique trouve son origine en Tunisie : « Afrikiya ». Le Conseil national des avocats de Tunisie a contribué à la mise en place de l'Union panafricaine des avocats (PALU). Notre pays est membre fondateur de cette organisation, et je pense que ce séminaire est important pour l'avenir de notre continent et celui de notre pays. Nous nous devons d'être conscients de cette complémentarité entre les avocats des pays d'Afrique au sud du Sahara et nous. Je me réjouis de cette double complémentarité pour l'efficacité de notre corporation. La question des fonds vautours est généralement confiée à des avocats internationaux. Il est important que nous accordions une importance nationale à cette question.
Je voudrais aussi souligner le rôle important des avocats dans le processus de développement et de démocratisation des pays. Comme vous le savez, les avocats africains ont largement participé au processus de libération et d'indépendance de leurs pays, ainsi qu'à l'édification de leurs Etats. Je citerai l'ancien président sud-africain, Nelson Mandela, Habib Bourguiba qui étaient des avocats. Nous devons continuer à nous inscrire dans la logique de nos prédécesseurs. N'oublions pas le rôle des avocats dans le Printemps arabe. Nous voudrions saluer ici les responsables de la BAD, ceux de la Facilité africaine de soutien juridique (ALSF) et du PALU pour cette initiative régionale. Grâce à cette coopération avec la BAD et l'ALSF, je pense que notre corporation pourra jouer plus efficacement son rôle.
Salah Adden Tabagh, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, Tripoli, Libya
"We want to contribute to building a new and prosperous Libya"
What has motivated you to travel all the way from Libya to attend this seminar in Tunis? What are your expectations after hearing the various introductory remarks?
This three-day long regional seminar on complex international commercial transactions, in Tunis, Tunisia is most welcome. We are currently trying to build a new Libya, and lawyers have a major role to play in our situation. The issues to be discussed like vulture funds, as well as the training session aimed at writing complex international commercial contracts are very important for the new Libya today. I am here to improve my skills and I am very glad. My thanks go to the African Legal Services Facility and the Pan African Law Association for providing this opportunity. My country needs to get stolen money back home. As a lawyer, I would like to sustainably contribute to building a new Libya. We are currently expecting our stolen funds to help us, both in the public and private sectors. This will be possible only if law practitioners are endowed with the necessary skills to face reality. We are trying to build a corruption-free nation. There is much to expect from this seminar.
