The Regional Advanced School of Magistracy (ERSUMA) of the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) is organising an international colloquium from 22 to 25 October 2025 in Cotonou (Benin) on the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Africa: Perspectives from Jurists, Political Scientists, Economists and Sociologists”. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this scientific event aims to explore the views of stakeholders on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa, and to analyse the stakes, challenges and prospects for the continent.

Profile of speakers

This call for papers is open to all researchers, IT engineers, economists, jurists, political scientists, public decision-makers and sociologists from Africa and elsewhere. Proposals may be made by people from outside the academic community, but they must follow the same guidelines. Proposals from young researchers are encouraged. Only papers related to the conference theme will be considered.

Paper Layout

Each speaker is expected to submit an analytical presentation in the form of a paper in Word format for publication in the conference proceedings.

Papers must be between 15 and 25 pages maximum and must comply with the following requirements:

• Full identification of the author(s): surname, first names, title;
• Be accompanied by the curriculum vitae of the author(s);
• Be written in one of OHADA's working languages, i.e. French, English, Portuguese and Spanish;
• Be preceded by a compulsory abstract of no more than 300 words in one of the official languages of OHADA, the language in which the submission is written;
• Be accompanied by an optional abstract of no more than 300 words in the other official languages of OHADA.
• Comply with the following layout rules:
  • File format: editable Word version (.doc or .docx file);
  • Article title: in lower case, bold and without border;
  • Main text: Tahoma font, size 12, single-spaced;
  • Headings in lower case;
  • Footnotes: Tahoma font, Size 10, single-spaced, appearing on each page of the submission and not at the end of the entire text;
• By submitting an article for possible publication, all contributors declare that:
  • his or her work is original, authentic and has not been previously published;
  • all the information contained therein has been scientifically verified by the contributor;
• Anyone wishing to take part in the Colloquium must send the Colloquium Secretariat the title of their paper and a 300-word abstract by 30 May 2025 at the latest.
• Papers must reach the Colloquium Secretariat no later than 15 July 2025.
• After evaluation by the Colloquium Scientific Committee and notification, the final versions of the selected papers must reach the ERSUMA Colloquium Secretariat by 30 August 2025 at the latest.

Electronic address of the colloquium secretariat: algadi.ersuma@ohada.org / kinsi.ersuma@ohada.org

For further information, kindly contact ERSUMA at the following address:

Regional Advanced School of Magistracy (ERSUMA)
Ouando, Carrefour Cinquantenaire - Route de Pobè
02 P.O. BOX 353, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin
Tel: +229 97 97 05 37
E-mail: ersuma@ohada.org

https://www.ohada.org