We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Mr. Sahalim AKAN successfully presented and defended his doctoral thesis in private law. The defense, centrally focused on « Contractual freedom in the OHADA Uniform Act on cooperative societies law », took place in Room N°1 of the LTAG at the prestigious University of Lomé, Togo.

Jury composition

• Mr. Koffi Mawunyo AGBENOTO, a distinguished Full Professor from the University of Lomé (Togo), presided over the jury;
• Mr. Ampah JOHNSON-ANSAH, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lomé (Togo), served as the Internal Rapporteur;
• Mr. Gnidouba Roger LANOU, an Associate Professor from Université Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso), fulfilled the role of External Rapporteur;
• Mr. Koffi Edem AVEGNON, an Associate Professor at the University of Lomé (Togo), acted as an Examiner;
• Mr. Akrawati Shamsidine ADJITA, a Senior Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lomé (Togo), provided guidance as the Thesis Director.

Thesis summary

The contemporary landscape clearly demonstrates the pervasive influence of contractual freedom, playing a pivotal role across various societal structures, particularly within cooperative societies operating under the OHADA framework. This significance holds true even in the face of arguments questioning its extent due to the mandatory nature of regulations governing these legal entities.

Indeed, discernible avenues for liberty persist, which can be strategically leveraged through the precise drafting of social instruments, such as articles of association and internal regulations. These allow for the exercise of choice and serve to complement the existing legal framework.

However, the sustained presence of numerous imperative rules, designed to circumscribe its application, necessitates a thorough inquiry into the precise standing of contractual freedom within the OHADA Uniform Act on cooperative societies law.

This in-depth investigation aims to meticulously map the boundaries within which cooperator associates can express their will and to pinpoint the limitations imposed by the institutional architecture of corporate public policy, whose true scope is often elusive. This study is poised to not only reinvigorate the ongoing academic discourse regarding the interplay between the contractual and institutional theories of legal personality—a subject of considerable fascination for legal scholars—but also to illuminate previously unacknowledged areas of autonomy for legal practitioners. Furthermore, it highlights several identified statutory shortcomings, offering concrete proposals for enhancing the AUSCOOP. Through rigorous analysis, the research confirms that substantial statutory freedom is granted to cooperator associates, both during the foundational stages of a cooperative society and throughout its active operational life.

Yet, far from being absolute, this freedom operates strictly within the confines established by the mandatory provisions of cooperative societies law, notably through corporate public policy, which is fundamentally designed to uphold the core principles governing cooperative entities.

Keywords : Contractual freedom – Cooperator associates – Public policy – AUSCOOP – OHADA.

For further details, please contact :

Mr. Sahalim AKAN
Email : [email protected]