On April 18, the CARO Centre took part in a conference on “OHADA Law: Challenges and Perspectives” held in Rabat, Morocco, with the participation of the Permanent Secretary of OHADA.

The event was hosted at the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Rabat-Agdal on April 18, 2025.

For the OHADA, this major international conference was a response to the “growing expectations of Moroccan businesses and the needs of legal and financial stakeholders in Morocco”. It brought together renowned speakers and experts who discussed various topics related to OHADA law, including the critical issue of translating OHADA texts into Arabic to improve accessibility.

Marie-Camille Pitton, Secretary General of the CARO Centre, represented the Centre at the event. Her presentation focused primarily on the development of mediation within the OHADA region. She emphasized that this development is grounded in a solid foundation: the OHADA Uniform Act on Mediation, adopted by the 45th Council of Ministers on November 23, 2017, and in force since March 15, 2018. The current priority is to ensure deeper integration of mediation across OHADA member states, where it remains underdeveloped. To achieve this, it is essential to take into account local needs and to promote a practical, hands-on approach through the training of a wide range of stakeholders, including courts, chambers of commerce, litigants (both individuals and legal entities), and governments. Furthermore, at the OHADA level, it would be relevant to explore alignment of the Model Law on Mediation with other Uniform Acts; to consider the interplay between OHADA mediation and arbitration; to reflect on potentially extending the mandate of the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) to include mediation; and to promote the use of mediation among marginalized communities so they are not excluded from the continent's ongoing economic transformation.

By participating in such a high-profile event for the OHADA region, the CARO Centre reaffirms its long-standing commitment to its historic partner, while continuing to work toward the development of reliable and accessible alternative dispute resolution mechanisms at the regional level, in service of institutions.

To learn more about OHADA: https://www.ohada.com/actualite/7700/programme-de-la-conference-ohada-le-18-avril-2025-a-rabat-maroc.html