Bibliographie sélective OHADA

A dissenting opinion with reference to International Commercial Arbitrations elementarily denotes the expression of disagreement by an Arbitrator in relation to both the reasoning and the result of the award granted by the majority of the Tribunal. Though still at a nascent stage, the practice of delivering dissenting opinions is one which needs to be duly noted and taken into due consideration because of the incidental and collateral questions that it nurtures. Fundamentally, a dissenting opinion raises concerns related to the effect, the nature and the rectitude of such opinions. One such collateral question is the enforceability of such dissenting opinions and the repercussions that follow in the context of an arbitral award delivered by the majority. In addition to the above raised question, through this thesis the author will also address other questions such as whether the act of delivering a dissenting opinion is an indicator of the increased sense of maturity of arbitrators in international commercial arbitration? Whether the dissenting opinion possesses any precedential value to the arbitration cases arriving prospectively? and How do such opinions contribute to the development of arbitration jurisprudence. Moreover, through this thesis the author will also attempt from a comparative perspective to examine and make an incisive analysis of the governing rules of arbitration across various arbitration regimes such as ICSID, LCIA which already have a wellestablished arbitration jurisprudence.

O objetivo central desta tese é avaliar se a regra da previsibilidade do dano contratual ressarcível é um método eficaz de limitação dos danos e se atende às exigências modernas do Comércio Internacional. Para o perfeito enquadramento e contextualização do tema central deste estudo, apresenta-se inicialmente a origem histórica do critério da previsibilidade do dano no campo da responsabilidade contratual, e faz-se uma análise do alcance do princípio da reparação integral do dano e do princípio geral de ressarcimento de dano no Direito romano. Em seguida, realiza-se um breve exame do Direito Contratual na França até o século XVI, bem como uma análise do ressarcimento do dano nas obras de Dumoulin, Domat e Pothier e, para encerrar a parte histórica, analisa-se o Código Civil francês e a obrigação de ressarcimento. Ato contínuo, adentra-se a fundo nas noções gerais e nuances da regra da previsibilidade do dano, verificando-se, inicialmente, o sentido geral da limitação. Em seguida, analisa-se a teoria do fim tutelado pelo contrato e os fundamentos (contratual e econômico) do critério da previsibilidade. Feito isso, são avaliados o objeto e o momento da previsibilidade e, após, a (não) limitação de responsabilidade ao devedor doloso. Na sequência, estuda-se a adoção da previsibilidade do dano contratual como critério limitador do ressarcimento nos sistemas domésticos e em alguns dos principais instrumentos internacionais de uniformização do direito europeu, quais sejam, nos Princípios de Direito Europeu dos Contratos (PECL), no Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR), no Common European Sales Law (CESL) e no Projeto do Código Europeu dos Contratos. Em seguida analisa-se dois dos principais instrumentos de harmonização normativa do Comércio Internacional: os princípios do International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Unidroit) e, mais profundamente, a Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre Contratos de Compra e Venda Internacional de Mercadorias (CISG), que hoje é referência normativa para os contratos internacionais entre signatários, os quais representam dois terços do comércio mundial. E, por fim, faz-se a análise econômica da regra da previsibilidade com o objetivo, primeiramente, de se verificar se, de fato, ela promove eficiência econômica e se a sua previsão influencia o comportamento das partes, incentivando a revelação de informações relevantes. E, na medida em que a previsibilidade do dano é um conceito jurídico indeterminado, cujo desafio da doutrina e especialmente da jurisprudência é dar a ele contornos mais concretos e objetivos, analisase decisões judiciais e arbitrais que aplicaram e interpretaram a regra da previsibilidade do dano no âmbito da CISG para, depois, avaliar, também mediante a análise econômica do Direito, a forma como o posicionamento de juízes e árbitros sobre a referida regra afeta os custos de transação dos negócios comerciais internacionais. The main purpose of the thesis herein is to evaluate if the foreseeability rule regarding refundable contractual damage is an effective method of damages limitation and whether it attends the modern International Trade requirements. For the perfect framing and contextualization of the central theme of this study, it is initially presented the historical origin of the damage foreseeability criteria in the field of contractual liability and an analysis is made of the scope of the principle of full compensation for damage and of the general principle of compensation in Roman Law. Then, a brief examination of the Contract Law in France until the sixteenth century is carried out, as well as an analysis of reparation of damages in the works of Dumoulin, Domat and Pothier and, to close the historical part, the French Civil Code and the obligation to make reparation are also analyzed. Subsequently, it goes deeper into the general notions and nuances of the foreseeability damage rule, initially finding the general meaning of the limitation. Next, we analyze the theory of the purpose protected by the contract and the fundamentals (contractual and economic) of the criteria of foreseeability. Later, the object and the moment of foreseeability are evaluated, as well as the (non) limitation of liability to the intentional debtor. Following, it is herein studied the adoption of foreseeability of contractual damage as a limiting criterion for reimbursement in domestic systems and in some of the main international instruments for the standardization of European law, namely in the European Contract Law Principles (ECLP), in the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR), in Common European Sales Law (CESL) and in the Draft of the European Code of Contracts. Two main instruments of normative harmonization of international trade are discussed below: the principles of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Unidroit) and, more profoundly, the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), which is currently the normative reference for international contracts among signatories, which represent twothirds of world trade. Finally, the economic analysis of the foreseeability rule is carried out, initially, in order to verify whether it promotes economic efficiency and whether its prediction influences the behavior of the parties, encouraging the disclosure of relevant information. And insofar as the damage foreseeability is an indeterminate legal concept, whose challenge in the doctrine and especially the jurisprudence is to give it more concrete and objective outlines, we analyze judicial and arbitral decisions that applied and interpreted the rule of foreseeability within the scope of the CISG, in order to afterwards assess, also upon the economic analysis of the Law, how the position of judges and arbitrators on such rule affects the transaction costs of international business.

Les droits fondamentaux occupent une place croissante dans le paysage assurantiel français et tendent à modifier la nature des contentieux impliquant l’assuré et l’assureur. L’égalité et la protection de la vie privée de l’assuré freinent l’utilisation par l’assureur de nouvelles techniques actuarielles et d’Internet. Ainsi, une décision de la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne du 1er mars 2011 a sanctionné la différence de tarif entre les hommes et les femmes. Quant à l’assureur, ses droits à la sécurité juridique, à un procès équitable et à la liberté d’entreprendre font débat dans les rapports qu’il entretient avec les autorités de contrôle ou les plateformes de mise en relation qui s’attaquent au marché de l’assurance. Ces droits fondamentaux ne semblent pas être respectés avec autant d’acuité que ceux de l’assuré. Ce déséquilibre s’explique par le rôle social de l’assurance, rôle récemment menacé par la remise en cause des grands principes de l’assurance et l’absence de prévisibilité du coût des sinistres.

Les navires et les aéronefs sont des biens dont la valeur vénale est telle qu’ils sont extrêmement difficiles à financer. Ces biens qui ont un lien très fort avec les États ont un rôle crucial pour les échanges commerciaux. Ils bénéficient de dispositions très particulières qui permet de leur appliquer des dispositions prenant en compte les spécificités de leur nature. La matière fait face à de nombreuses difficultés, d’une part celles liées au nombre de suretés réelles existantes et au fait qu’elles ne sont pas identiques dans les différents États d’autre part du fait que les sûretés réelles sont tributaires du droit des voies d’exécution.En conséquence, ce travail est à la croisée nombreuses matières qui permettent de dégager l’efficacité des sûretés réelles qui quoi que l’on en dise sont une source importante de garanties des opérations internationales ainsi que de démontrer le rôle essentiel des voies d’exécution en matière de financement. Ships and aircrafs are valuable assets but their financements are really hard to set up. Unlike most of the goods, ships and aircrafts are linked to a State and are essential for trades. They are submit to special laws which considere their specific nature. Those registrated goods require securites interest which are found on real rights. Thoses securities are différent in each State and they need a judicial execution proceeding to be effective.This study is at the crossroad of different specialities which are needed to allow the efficiency of the real rights. Thoses rights are essential to securite international trade. This study proves that judicial execution proceedings have a role in international trades.

Esta tese trata do abuso do poder em companhias sob controle conjunto formado a partir da celebração de acordo de acionistas e o exercício das prerrogativas conferidas pelo art. 118, §§ 8º e 9º da Lei das S.A. aos acordantes e aos presidentes da assembleia geral e órgãos colegiados de administração da companhia. Seu objetivo precípuo é contribuir para a delimitação do risco de que tais prerrogativas sejam utilizadas para a prática de atos ilícitos. O tema é investigado dogmática e empiricamente - neste segundo caso, mediante um estudo de caso da capitalização de Oi S.A., realizada em 2014. No Capítulo I caracterizam-se o poder de controle conjunto e o acordo de acionistas sobre exercício do poder de controle. No Capítulo II, analisa-se o abuso do poder de controle, tanto no direito estrangeiro (escolhidos como paradigmas de análise os Estados Unidos da América e Reino Unido da Grã-Bretanha e Irlanda do Norte), quanto no brasileiro, e relaciona-se tal conceito ao de benefícios privados do controle (ou tunneling), desenvolvido por economistas. Por fim, no Capítulo III analisam-se as normas do art. 118, §§ 8º e 9º da Lei das S.A. Em cada um dos capítulos a análise dogmática é seguida de estudos empíricos que visam a aplicar os conceitos desenvolvidos ao caso estudado. Ao final, conclui-se que somente sob circunstâncias específicas os direitos e deveres decorrentes dos §§ 8º e 9º do art. 118 podem servir de instrumento ao abuso do poder de controle - quando não houver incentivos para que os acordantes cheguem a uma solução negociada, evitando os conflitos que levariam à aplicação de tais dispositivos. This thesis addresses the abuse of control power by controlling shareholders in companies under joint control based on a shareholders' agreement and the use of the faculties granted by Section 118, §§ 8th and 9th to the parties to shareholders' agreement and the chairmen of the general meeting and boards of the company. Its main objective is to contribute to delimitation of the risk of use of such faculties for the practice of illicit acts. The theme is analysed both dogmatically and empirically - in the latter case, via a case study of the capitalization of Oi S.A., which took place in 2014. In Chapter I joint control and shareholders' agreements for the exercise of control power are defined. In Chapter II, the abuse of control power is examined, both in foreign law (chosen analytical paradigms are the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), and in Brazilian law, and said concept is related to that of private benefits of control (or tunnel - ling), as developed by economists. Finally, in Chapter III the rules of Section 118, §§ 8th and 9th of the Companies Act are reviewed. In each chapter dogmatic analysis is followed by empirical studies which aim at applying the concepts developed to the case studied. By the end, it is concluded that only under specific circumstances the rights and duties arising from §§ 8th and 9th of Section 118 may work as instruments for the abuse of control power - whenever there are no incentives for the parties to the shareholders' agreement to reach a negotiated solution, avoiding the conflicts that would lead to employment of said provisions.

A presente dissertação de Mestrado visa analisar e apresentar uma reflexão mais abrangente e aprofundada sobre a problemática inerente às sociedades criadas de facto e sociedades de facto no Direito da OHADA, nunca antes tratada pela doutrina nacional e (ou pela doutrina da OHADA) especializada, cujo resultado final esperamos poder contribuir, em certa medida, para o reforço da segurança jurídica e judiciária nos Estado-Membros da OHADA. As sociedades criadas de facto e sociedades de facto podem perturbar (e, efetivamente, perturbam) o exercício legítimo de atividades comerciais, uma vez que geram a insegurança jurídica e judiciária para investidores e para o comércio em geral. Com efeito, trata-se de realidades societárias, por vezes, constituídas e dissolvidas à margem do quadro legal vigente. À luz do artigo 98.º do Ato Uniforme Relativo as Sociedades Comerciais (AUS), todas as sociedades comerciais adquirem a personalidade jurídica a partir da sua matrícula no Registo do Comércio e do Crédito Mobiliário. Por isso, a maior parte da doutrina tem perdido demasiado tempo e energia na exegese deste preceito, deduzindo nele o efeito constitutivo do registo. Porém, temos para nós que a génese da sociedade reside na vontade das partes, tendo o registo o efeito principal de atribuição de um privilégio comercial de limitação da responsabilidade. Todavia, o registo não deixa de ser condicionante da plenitude da personalidade. A sociedade resulta de um contrato e não, necessariamente, do mero facto. This Master's thesis aims at analyzing and providing with a broadly and in-depth reflection on the problems connected to the partnership by estoppel and partnership de facto in OHADA Law, never before analyzed by national doctrine and (or OHADA doctrine). The final outcome of which we hope will contribute, at certain point, to the strengthening of legal and judicial certainty in the Member States of OHADA. Partnership de facto and partnership by estoppel may disturb (and, indeed, disrupt) the legitimate exercise of commercial activities, since they create legal and judicial uncertainty for investors and for trade in general. In fact, these corporate realities are sometimes constituted and dissolved out of the legal framework in force. Pursuant to the OHADA Uniform Act Relating to Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Group (UACC/EIG), registration is mandatory and companies only have legal personality as from the date of registration of the By-laws with the Registry of Companies. Thus, most of the doctrine has spent too much time and energy in the exegesis of this precept, deducing in it the constitutive effect of the register. As far as we are able to judge, the genesis of society lies in the will of the parties, and registration has the main effect of conferring a commercial privilege on limiting liability. However, it does not cease to be a condition of the fullness of personality. The company results from a contract and not necessarily from the mere fact.

Face à l'accroissement de l'importance politique et économique des fora internationaux, quel est aujourd'hui le degré de liberté des États dans la définition de leur propre système de protection ? L'harmonisation internationale du droit des brevets nécessite de mettre en place des éléments de flexibilité permettant à chaque État de transposer le droit international dans leur ordre interne en fonction de leur spécificité économique et politique. Or, les débats actuels au sein des fora internationaux démontrent une divergence entre États-membres qui porte atteinte à la notion même d'harmonisation. Alors que les pays développés prônent une suppression progressive des éléments de flexibilité au profit d'une uniformisation internationale du droit, les pays émergents, sous couvert de principes universels liés au développement, remettent en cause l'insuffisance de flexibilité du régime international des brevets face aux crises majeures du XXIe siècle. li s'en suit un mouvement cyclique mettant en scène les rapports entre bilatéralisme et multilatéralisme face au déclin des organisations internationales. While the economic and political importance of international fora is increasing, what is today the degree of freedom of States in defining their own system of protection? The international harmonization of patent law requires the introduction of flexibilities allowing each State to transpose international law into their legislation in accordance with· their economic and political specificities, The current debates in international for a demonstrate a divergence between Member States which undermines the notion of harmonisation. While developed countries promote the gradual elimination of flexibilities in favour of international standardization of the law, emerging countries, under the guise of universal development-related principles, challenge the lack of flexibility of the international patent regime vis-à-vis Major crises of the XXlst century. This is followed by a cyclical movement highlighting the relationship between bilateralism and multilateralism in the face of the decline of international organizations.

La production de règles d'origine non étatique se développe dans les rapports internationaux privés. L'analyse de ces règles dans les activités commerciale et sportive construit progressivement une définition unifiée de la notion de droit non-étatique : ensemble des règles écrites et unilatéralement élaborées par des acteurs privés et/ou publics, ayant vocation à s'appliquer eu égard à l'activité considérée, indépendamment des frontières étatiques. Cette proposition est mise à l'épreuve des diverses interactions entretenues par le droit non-étatique, visant à en expliquer le fonctionnement. L'arbitrage atteste sa réception, la fréquence de son application, voire sa promotion, jusqu'à l'exclusion de législations nationales impératives. L'ordre juridique français, par principe, refuse la réception de ce droit, hormis action exceptionnelle des juges, du législateur ou d'organes auxquels il est reconnu compétence. À un niveau supra-étatique, la Cour de justice contrôle directement les règles non-étatiques susceptibles d'entraver les libertés garanties par l'Union européenne, dont la libre circulation des travailleurs. La Cour européenne des droits de l'homme a la possibilité de contrôler indirectement les règles non-étatiques transposées par des États, en raison d'atteintes potentielles aux libertés individuelles, dans le cadre de la lutte contre le dopage par exemple. Le droit international privé, par ailleurs, contribue à rendre compte de l'application du droit non-étatique, en renforce l'efficacité, et participe, potentiellement et à titre prospectif, de la résolution de conflits de normes produits par des règles non-étatiques. The production of non-state norms is growing in private international relations. The analysis of these norms in commercial and sporting activities is progressively building a unified definition of the notion of non-state norms: set of rules written and unilaterally drawn up by private and/or public actors, has intended to be applied with regard to the activity concerned, regardless of State borders. This proposal is put to the test of the various interactions maintained by non-state norms, in order to explain how these norms work. Arbitration attests to its receipt, the frequency of its application and even its promotion, up to the exclusion of imperative national rules. The French legal system, as a matter of principle, refuses to accept these non-state norms. Exceptionally, this principle is contradicted by the action of judges, legislators or bodies whose competence is recognized by the French legal system. At a -supra-state level, the Court of Justice directly controls non-state norms which may hamper the freedoms guaranteed by the European Union, including the free movement of workers. The European Court of Human Rights has the possibility of indirectly controlling non-state norms transposed by States, due to potential breach of individual freedoms, for example in the fight against doping. Moreover, Private International Law helps to explain the application of non-state norms, enhances their efficiency, and potentially and prospectively participates in the resolution of conflicts of norms produced by non­state norms.

L'exploitation artisanale, à petite échelle du diamant se pratique dans tous les pays de l'Union du Fleuve Mano (Côte d'Ivoire, Guinée, Libéria et Sierra Leone) de façon rudimentaire et parfois de façon informelle. L'exploitation minière artisanale du diamant offre cependant une importante stratégie de subsistance aux communautés locales car elle constitue l'activité principale de la plupart des travailleurs mineurs dans l'Union du Fleuve Mano (UFM). Il ressort de nos études de terrain et des enquêtes auprès des artisans mineurs que ce type d'exploitation minière a des impacts directs sur les galeries forestières, le sol et les cours d'eau. De plus, nous montrons que la réduction des impacts environnementaux engendrés par l'exploitation artisanale, à petite échelle de diamants n'est pas ressentie comme une nécessité ni comme une préoccupation majeure au sein de la communauté des artisans mineurs. Il y a souvent de la part des artisans mineurs un manque de compréhension des problèmes environnementaux et une insuffisante capacité à y faire face, comme le révèle notre étude menée sur trois sites Bobi, Toubabouko et Tortiya en Côte d'Ivoire. Les aires protégées au titre de leurs biodiversités, qui revêtent une importance écologique et socioéconomique majeure pour les populations des pays de la région de l'UFM, subissent malheureusement des pressions importantes du fait de cette exploitation minière artisanale du diamant. D'autant que bien souvent la population des artisans mineurs des sites enquêtés se révèle être en situation socio-économique très précaire et être souvent préoccupée par sa survie dans des conditions très difficiles. Ces dernières années, le Processus de Kimberley a pris l'initiative de concentrer sa réflexion et son action sur les questions environnementales. En 2012, la Déclaration de Washington, relative à l'intégration du développement de l'extraction artisanale et à petite échelle de diamants dans la mise en application du Processus de Kimberley, a souligné l'importance de prendre en considération les ramifications et conséquences environnementales de l'extraction minière artisanale. Dans cette optique, une enquête auprès des artisans mineurs en Côte d'Ivoire et une auto-évaluation de cette déclaration effectuée en 2014 en Côte d'Ivoire ont permis de comprendre que le cadre juridique, social, institutionnel et politique, constaté dans l'État Ivoirien, n'était pas toujours adapté au règlement des problèmes sociaux des artisans mineurs ni au règlement des questions environnementales soulevées par leurs activités minières. Ce travail de diagnostic de la déclaration devrait servir de modèle aux autres États de l'UFM. Les impacts des activités minières artisanales sur l'environnement existent donc mais il semble aussi que la remédiation des sites miniers artisanaux soit possible. En effet, le secteur de l'exploitation artisanale, à petite échelle de diamants a besoin de procédures de remédiation environnementale simples et de protocoles adaptés au niveau d'éducation des artisans mineurs et de leurs réalités financières. A ce sujet, la Sierra Leone a été un terrain privilégié d'expérimentation de la remédiation des sites miniers abandonnés à travers des projets gouvernementaux et des projets pilotes comme "Life after diamonds: Land Reclamation for Agriculture and Advocacy Pilot Initiative ". Ces projets ont contribué à protéger l'environnement et à améliorer les conditions socio-économiques des exploitants miniers. Cependant ces projets de remédiation quoique salutaires, ont eu aussi des limites qui méritent d'être prises en compte dans les futures initiatives des autres pays de l'UFM.

تظهر طرق تحديد القانون واجب التطبيق على عقود التجارة الدولية في كل من المنهج التنازعي الذي يقوم على قاعدة إسناد و المنهج المباشر الذي يقدم الحل للنزاع بطريقة مباشرة وذلك بتطبيق قواعد قانونية تهتم بتنظيم العلاقات التجارية ذات البعد الدولي والتي تعرف بقواعد التجارة الدولية . يعتبر المنهج التنازعي من أقدم مناهج التي عرفتها نظرية التنازع والتي عرفت تطورات تعكس الفكر الفلسفي والاقتصادي والقانوني الذي يتخلل كل مرحلة من هذا التطور إلى أن إستقر في الأخير مبدأ سلطان الإرادة على ضوؤه يتم تحديد قانون العقد الدولي . مع تطورات الحاصلة في التجارة الدولية خاصة بعد التطور العلمي والتكنلوجي وتطور وسائل النقل وظهور مجتمع خاص يمارس هذه التجارة، ظهرت الحاجة إلى تطبيق قواعد قانونية ذات مضمون عالمي تستوعب تعقيدات هذه العقود التي تجاوزت المفاهيم الكلاسيكية التي جاءت بها القوانين الداخلية التي صدرت لتنظيم العقود الداخلية . Les modes de détermination de la loi applicable aux contrats de commerce international Les modes de choix de la loi applicable sur les contrats de commerce international se dégagent à la fois de l’application de la méthode dite conflictuelle qui se base sur la règle du rattachement, et de la méthode dite directe qui propose une solution directe au litige et ce, en application des règles régissant les relations à caractère international. La méthode dite conflictuelle est la plus ancienne ; elle a connu plusieurs étapes dans son évolution qui ont caractérisées la pensée philosophique, économique et juridique, jusqu’à l’émergence du principe de l’autonomie de la volonté sur lequel se base le choix de la loi applicable sur le contrat international. L’évolution connue dans le commerce international notamment au plan scientifique et technologique, l’évolution des moyens de transport et l’apparition d’une société qui pratique ce commerce, a fait apparaitre le besoin de règles à vocation mondiale prenant en compte la complexité de ce type de contrats qui dépassent largement les concepts classiques liés aux contrats internes.

Le secteur des assurances est protéiforme : il comprend plusieurs opérateurs dont l’intégration dans le paysage économique et juridique s’est accentuée ces dernières années et ne cesse de s’imposer. Les compagnies d'assurance déploient elles-mêmes des activités d’assurance multiples. Depuis les années cinquante les différents régimes d’assurances maladie, vieillesse, chômage – obligatoires, complémentaires – sont exploités par certains organismes assureurs (mutuelles et institutions de prévoyance). Ces organismes développent leurs activités sur des marchés dont le caractère économique n’est pas toujours évident. Si les assurances vie par exemple, ne soulèvent guère de difficulté d’insertion sur un marché concurrentiel, peut-on en revanche considérer que les régimes complémentaires et légaux d’assurance maladie opèrent sur un marché économique ? Cette question conduit à s’interroger sur la soumission du secteur des assurances au droit de la concurrence et son éventuelle unicité de régime. Deux points sont étudiés, en premier lieu, il s’agit de confronter le secteur des assurances à la vision extensive des autorités européenne et nationale sur les critères d’applicabilité du droit de la concurrence. Cette approche est vérifiée auprès de tous les opérateurs proposant des produits et services qualifiés d'assurance. En second lieu, sont examinées l'application du droit de la concurrence au secteur des assurances et leurs exemptions spécifiques. Cette étude prend en compte l’ensemble du droit de la concurrence : pratiques anticoncurrentielles, droit des concentrations économiques et aides d’État. Elle s’appuie essentiellement sur le droit européen et français de la concurrence.

The thesis contemplates the need for Nigerian policy makers to undertake a reform of secured transactions law to meet international best standards, building upon earlier, unsuccessful, efforts by lawmakers, and drawing upon international benchmarks. It critically analyses the Registration of Security Interests in Movable Property by Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria (Regulation No.1 2015) 'CBNR' published on 2 February 2015. The CBNR, with a primary aim of facilitating affordable credit, and to modernise secured transactions law through the use of personal property as collateral, has departed from its previous position which it inherited from England. This thesis has drawn comparisons between the CBNR and prior reform initiatives particularly the Draft Law 2009 prepared by the Centre for the Economic Analysis of Law (CEAL). These reforms, which were not implemented, recommended wholesale changes to harmonise all existing secured transactions law in Nigeria. The CBNR does not follow this approach, but instead, adopts a piecemeal approach to reform. Correspondingly, this forms the framework within which this study has been undertaken with reference to whether a piecemeal or wholesale reform is now required. This thesis has followed the International Finance Corporation (IFC) approach which focuses on a three-stage secured transactions reform strategy - modernisation of the existing legal framework; establishment of an electronic collateral registry; a concerted effort towards building capacity. With the assistance of international secured transactions legal frameworks such as the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions 2007, and its Registry Guide 2014, the CBNR has been benchmarked against these adaptable legal frameworks for the purpose of harmonising secured transactions law, in search of the international best practice which may be desirable for Nigeria. The thesis identifies and discusses at length several problems and inconsistencies associated with the CNBR, and the thesis makes suggestions for a wholesale reform of the Nigerian secured transactions law. This thesis builds on existing knowledge on secured transactions law reform with particular reference, and usefulness, to sub-Saharan African countries and other developing countries that wish to attempt a similar reform of this nature.

This dissertation serves to expand the means within international law by which to address the global interdisciplinary crisis that is climate change. The principle of sovereignty over natural resources is identified as a principle of international law, evolutionary in nature, fundamentally connected to the international legal climate change regime, and able to be impacted by the effects of climate change. The gravity of climate change is illustrated, as is the intricacy and composition of the international legal climate change regime. In the process, a particular shortcoming of the international legal climate change regime is identified, namely the lack of state compliance with climate commitments made in terms of the Kyoto Protocol 1997 and the Paris Agreement 2015. The gravity of the effects of climate change warrants the repositioning of any principle of international law that is able to address this shortcoming of the international legal climate change regime and increase the effectiveness of the regime. In this regard it is determined, more specifically, that the gravity of the effects of climate change warrants a reinterpretation and reconfiguration of the principle of sovereignty over natural resources. Climate change, forming part of the general, growing, global concern for environmental conservation and sustainable development, influences the interpretation and configuration of state rights and state duties in terms of the principle by eliciting an interpretation that restricts state rights and expands state duties. Furthermore, the gravity of the effects of climate change on the well-being of people, warrants a reinterpretation and reconfiguration of the principle of sovereignty over natural resources as a people-oriented principle as opposed to the conventional state-oriented principle, and ought to be applied with due regard to the rights of people in terms of the principle. The right of people in terms of the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, is identified as the right to economic selfdetermination, which gives effect to the right of people to dispose freely of natural resources. Should this right be promoted in future applications of the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, the right may well be established as constituting a significant basis on which people are able to hold states accountable for climate commitments made in terms of the Kyoto Protocol 1997 and the Paris Agreement 2015. In this way, the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, specifically the implementation of the right of people to dispose freely of natural resources in terms of the principle, presents a negative incentive for state compliance with climate commitments and can contribute to addressing the lack of state compliance within the international legal climate change regime. In summary, this dissertation proposes that the grave effects of climate change warrant a repositioning of the principle of sovereignty over natural resources that allows it to constitute a contribution to climate change law and the global fight against climate change.

This thesis is made up of three empirical studies that fall under the general classification of international and financial economics, particularly the study focuses on the financial system of selected African countries. The first empirical study presented in Chapter 2 examines the role of financial development in improving the effect of FDI on the economic growth of some African countries. Investigations were conducted to pinpoint which financial structure could provide the best improvement by applying the bank-based vs. market-based debate. Results from the regression analysis conducted show that the effect of FDI on economic growth becomes significant only when financial development measures were factored in. Analysis of results indicate that development of the overall financial system of African countries would be more beneficial in comparison to developing either the banks or financial markets alone. Chapter 3 empirically measures the level of financial integration in Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs) using beta and sigma convergence to measure the speed and degree of financial integration in four RECs. These chapter also theoretically examines how regional financial integration contributes to financial development and economic growth in Africa. Analysis of the results show that Africa’s RECs are integrating at a relatively slow and diverse rate. Therefore, policy makers in Africa would need to focus on reform strategies that would strengthen financial integration in their regions. A fully financially integrated system would contribute immensely to financial development and promote sustainable economic growth. The fourth chapter investigates the effect of access to finance on firms’ productivity. Using cross-sectional firm-level data to estimate the effect of access to finance on labor productivity, total factor productivity (TFP), and the stochastic frontier trans-log model. This study estimates an instrumental variable (GMM) model to address potential endogeneity bias between access to credit and firms’ productivity. The results obtained show that the lack of access to finance negatively affects the productivity of firms in Africa. This study suggests that the development of a balanced financial system should be of topmost priority to policy makers. This ensures that more finance is channelled towards those firms whose productivity depends heavily on the availability of finance irrespective of their characteristics. This would result in firms increasing their investments in productivity-enhancing activities, which would benefit long-term economic growth

Les Universitaires les juristes les professionnelles qui sont engagés dans le droit des transports maritimes nationaux et internationaux de marchandises ont l’habitude de travailler avec un régime complexe de responsabilité du transporteur maritime. La coexistence de plusieurs conventions régissant ce régime et l’imprécision des textes de ces différentes législations rendent leur application difficile d’où l’échec permanent du voeu d’uniformisation de ce droit. En premier lieu, nous retrouvons le régime de base celui de la Convention de Bruxelles sur l’unification de certaines règles en matière de connaissement, ratifiée le 25 août 1924 et ses Protocoles modificatifs annexés en 1968 et 1979. Il s’agit d’un régime fondé sur la présomption de responsabilité comprenant une liste de cas exonératoires appelés «cas exceptés». En second lieu figurent les Règles de Hambourg, édictées en 1978, qui établissent un régime basé sur la présomption de faute du transporteur à l’exception de deux cas exonératoires : l’incendie et l’assistance ou la tentative de sauvetage. Enfin, apparaît la Convention sur le contrat de transport international de marchandises effectué entièrement ou partiellement par mer, adoptée par les Nations unies en 2009, sous l’appellation «Les Règles de Rotterdam», qui adopte un régime de responsabilité «particulier». Cette recherche a mis en évidence les théories et les approches pratiques traditionnelles, élaborées au sein de la discipline du droit international privé pour faire face aux rapports de droit internationaux. La première partie de cette thèse a donné une vision général sur la situation ancienne et actuelle du droit maritime marocain (histoire, évolution, sources, jurisprudence) toute en analysant le droit maritime et le régime juridique du transport maritime des marchandises au Maroc en relation avec les aspects suivants: affrètement, responsabilité du propriétaire/armateur de navire, contrat de transport, connaissement etc. La deuxième partie est consacrée à l’analyse des normes internationales applicables en la matière au Maroc. on a donc se rappeler les normes fondamentales du droit maritime marocain tel que le code de 1919 et du droit international maritime applicable qui comptent sur une longue histoire et tradition, afin de comparer les similitudes et les différences, et on a vérifier le degré d’application des conventions internationales au Maroc. La tache qu’on s’est proposée est de viser non seulement le droit positif existant qui a pour but l’unification de droit maritime, mais également les méthodes, les systèmes possibles pour unifier ce droit d’un point de vue juridique. En définitive, on a pris conscience des doctrines existantes, d’analyser les données de fait et celles de droit positif et on a essayer de donner des solutions dans un domaine où le droit semble plus faible, là où son essence paraît plus incertaine, où son application semble plus difficile.

A tese propõe a sistematização da intervenção judicial na administração de sociedades no Brasil. Para tanto, adotou-se um conceito restritivo de intervenção judicial, assim consideradas apenas as hipóteses em que o magistrado nomeia interventor provisório (terceiro estranho ao quadro social) para integrar-se à administração da sociedade. Existem diversas modalidades de intervenção -- da mais branda (nomeação de interventor-observador) à mais incisiva (nomeação de interventor-administrador) --, devendo o juiz eleger a que melhor atenda às necessidades do caso concreto. A aplicação do instituto deve ser encarada como medida excepcional, última alternativa, diante das graves consequências que pode produzir, circunstância que não pode e não deve, todavia, impedir a sua utilização sempre que necessário (manejada de forma adequada, a intervenção pode ser de grande valia para a solução do conflito societário). The thesis proposes the systematization of the judicial interference in the management of companies in Brazil. For that purpose, a restrict concept of judicial interference was adopted, considering as so solely the situations in which the judge appoints a temporary intervenor (a third party outside of the company's bodies) to integrate itself to the company's management. There are several types of interference - from the softer ones (appointment of an observing intervenor) to the stronger ones (appointment of a managing intervenor) -, being up to the judge to select the one that best suits the necessities of the specific case. The use of the institute should be faced as an extraordinary measure, a last resource, due to the serious consequences it can produce, circumstances which, however, should not and shall not prevent its use when necessary (if managed adequately, the interference can be of great value to the resolution of corporate conflicts).

The thesis attempts to explore an efficient policy and administrative framework to tax the small businesses in developing countries. In order to approach the policy and administrative problems concerning the taxation of small business in developing countries this thesis asks How can small businesses be efficiently taxed in developing countries? This thesis over eight chapters qualitatively explores this research question. The analyses conclude that first, in a typical developing country a well-designed simple to follow presumptive tax regime is more efficient than the actual account based tax system. Second, this thesis argues that the noncompliance of small businesses in developing countries may not be adequately explained by the standard expected utility based compliance models. The leading tax compliance models which mainly emphasise on the perceived reward from evasion might ignore some crucial factor that constitutes the tax compliance environment of small businesses in developing countries. This thesis illustrates broadly the typical tax compliance environment of small businesses. It argues that a simple to follow tax system that requires a minimal level of taxpayer compliance would attract a section of small taxpayers into the formal tax net. Third, this thesis demonstrates that there are crucial differences between typical urban and rural businesses. A small business tax regime should have a separate set of presumptive instruments for each class of small business in order to make an efficient estimate of their economic activities. Fourth, this thesis analytically examines the presumptive methods and their practical applications. The findings suggest that in developing countries presumptive tax methods have been adopted mostly in arbitrary manner, without the objective considerations to many crucial design issues. Fifth, this thesis has developed a focused analysis on the taxation of urban small businesses in the contexts of developing countries. This thesis analyses some crucial characteristics of urban small businesses and stresses that enterprise formalization should be a key element of urban small business tax policy. For a meaningful expansion of the tax net, tax administration should put more focus on urban small businesses as these businesses have relatively more potential to grow as more stable and sustained taxpayers. This thesis concludes that a turnover based presumptive taxation is more efficient to tax the urban small businesses. Lastly, this thesis explores the issues concerning the taxation of rural small businesses. This thesis reports that the overall tax burden on the agricultural income had substantially declined over the last few decades. Developing countries should not ignore the tax potential of the rural taxpayers. In a typical developing country an asset based presumptive tax system is more efficient to tax the agricultural income of the rural small businesses. This thesis has argued that it would be more efficient to adopt a single asset based presumptive income tax replacing all the prevailing taxes on the agricultural income such as agricultural land tax, wealth tax and income tax.

La délinquance économique et financière, constituée par l'ensemble des activités illégales, qui peuvent être commises de manière individuelle, en entreprise ou bande organisée, a des méthodes d'action différentes de celles des infractions de droit commun. Le plus souvent, elles se commettent par des procédés astucieux (tromperie), ou frauduleux (faux par exemple), par l'exploitation des secrets commerciaux ou des données confidentielles (délits d'initiés), exigeant pour cela des connaissances et un savoir-faire propres au monde des affaires, voire une ingénierie financière, à l'encontre des particuliers, d'entreprises. de l'Etat ou d'organisations internationales. Généralement, leur finalité est la recherche du gain facile, donc de l'argent sale ou noir, fruit d'activités illégales ou criminelles. Cet argent est au centre de la délinquance économique et financière. Il en est le moteur. C'est une des raisons pour lesquelles la lutte contre cette forme de délinquance doit avoir comme principale finalité la saisie des avoirs d'origine criminelle ou délictuelle. A cette fin. nous avons fait dans cette étude, des propositions de réforme dans les codes pénaux et de procédure pénale des Etats appartenant à la sphère UEMOA-OHADA et d'y inclure des dispositions permettant de procéder efficacement à cette saisie. Cette question de saisie des avoirs d'origine illicite montre à quel point il est difficile de lutter contre cette forme de délinquance. Car, aujourd'hui, l'action des Etats, pris individuellement. pour combattre ce fléau, a perdu son efficacité. C'est pourquoi, le traitement de cette délinquance devrait nécessairement passer par une harmonisation du droit pénal des affaires de l'OHADA et une uniformisation du droit pénal économique et financier de l'UEMOA. Cependant. ce combat au niveau communautaire n'est pas sans poser quelques difficultés dans la mesure où les Etats membres de ces deux organisations ne veulent pas se départir, au profit des Institutions communautaires, du pouvoir d'élaborer des sanctions pénales contre les incriminations communautaires applicables sur leur territoire. D'où la nécessité de tenir compte de l'impératif d'harmonisation des règles pénales de sanction contre les violations du droit communautaire, d'un côté, et de l'impératif du respect de la souveraineté des Etats, de l'autre, même si ces deux impératifs sont difficilement conciliables. En tout état de cause, pour rendre efficace la lutte contre ce phénomène criminel, les dispositifs actuels doivent évoluer vers de nouveaux instruments plus adaptés. Ainsi des typologies de mesures relatives au droit pénal de forme et de fond sont elles proposées tant au niveau national et régional. En effet, une lutte envisagée à un seul niveau est d'avance vouée à l'échec. C’est ainsi qu'il faut instaurer un véritable coopération judiciaire dans l'espace UEMOA-OHADA pour une lutte efficace contre la délinquance économique et financière dans cet espace.

Difficile de nier qu’il arrive quelque chose au droit constitutionnel sousl’effet conjugué de l’internationalisation du droit et de la construction communautaire. Eneffet, le droit constitutionnel s’internationalise, se régionalise dans un mouvement exponentiel. L’Afrique en général et l’espace CEDEAO en particulier n’échappent guère àcette dynamique globale du constitutionnalisme moderne. Aussi, a-t-on constaté que l’internationalisation du droit constitutionnel sur le continent africain qui prend la forme d’un processus d’impact, d’influence ou parfois de contraintes induit à la fois à une reconfiguration horizontale des pouvoirs constitutionnels et une redistribution verticale du pouvoir au sein del’Etat. En revanche, au niveau supranational, ce processus dynamique et intense qui marqueune ouverture des systèmes de droit et favorise la communicabilité entre ordres juridiques se traduit par un phénomène d’intégration, d’harmonisation progressive des systèmes constitutionnels étatiques autour de standards démocratiques consacrés par le Protocole de laCEDEAO sur la démocratie et la bonne gouvernance de 2001. La dialectique est, au final,paradoxale en ce que l’internationalisation du droit constitutionnel en Afrique et plus particulièrement dans l’espace CEDEAO se révèle être l’expression d’un phénomène perturbateur des ordres juridiques constitutionnels étatiques et communautaire mais aussi et en même temps un instrument de convergence matérielle (droits fondamentaux) et structurelle (régime politique démocratique) de ces dits ordres au travers de standards constitutifs du patrimoine constitutionnel commun. It is difficult to deny that something has happened to constitutional law under the combined effect of the internationalization of law and the construction of the community. Indeed, constitutional law is internationalized, regionalized in an exponential movement. Africa in general and the ECOWAS area in particular do not escape the global dynamics of modern constitutionalism. Thus, it has been observed that the internationalization of constitutional law on the African continent, which takes the form of a process of impact, influence or sometimes constraints, leads both to a horizontal reconfiguration of constitutional and a vertical redistribution of power within the state. On the other hand, at the supranational level, this dynamic and intense process, which marks an opening up of legal systems and promotes communication between legal orders, is reflected in a phenomen on of integration and progressive harmonization of the state's constitutionalsystems around democratic standards The ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance of 2001. The dialectic is, in the end, paradoxical in that the internationalization of constitutional law in Africa and more particularly in the ECOWAS area proves to be a phenomenon Disrupting the constitutional legal systems of the state and the community, and at the same time an instrument of material (fundamental) and structural (democratic political rule, rule of law) convergence of these orders through standards which constitutethe common constitutional heritage.