The African Bar Association has issued a call for papers ahead of its 2026 Annual Conference scheduled to hold in Sal, Cape Verde from September 20 to 24, 2026.
The conference, organised in collaboration with the Cape Verde Bar Association, will take place at the Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort and will focus on the theme, “Resilient Africa’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development: Addressing and Strengthening Issues of Military, Security and Economic Stability.”
According to the Association, the call for papers is aimed at engaging legal practitioners, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders in critical discussions on Africa’s resilience amid ongoing military conflicts, security threats, and economic challenges.
The AFBA noted that the continent continues to face complex issues, including terrorism, governance weaknesses, debt burdens, and global economic disruptions, while striving to achieve sustainable development through regional cooperation and policy reforms.
It stated that the conference would provide a platform to explore legal frameworks and strategies that support resilience, promote peace, and drive inclusive economic growth in line with continental initiatives such as Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The Association invited submissions addressing the intersection of military, security, and economic stability across a wide range of sectors, including access to justice and human rights, regional integration, aviation law, banking and finance, business regulation, capital markets, construction and mining, and anti-corruption frameworks.
Other areas of focus include taxation, dispute resolution, oil and gas, health law, intellectual property, maritime transport, environmental sustainability, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and family law.
It explained that abstracts must not exceed 300 words and should include the title, author’s name, affiliation, and contact details, while full papers are expected to be no more than 8,000 words and must comply with the OSCOLA referencing style.
The Association added that submissions should be made in Microsoft Word format and may be written in English, French, or Arabic.
Key deadlines announced include May 31, 2026, for abstract submissions, June 30, 2026, for notification of acceptance, and August 15, 2026, for full paper submissions.
The AFBA clarified that it does not provide honorarium or financial compensation for submitted papers or abstracts.
It further stated that all submissions must be original works and that authors will transfer intellectual property rights in their papers to the Association, subject to retention of moral rights.
The African Bar Association encouraged interested participants to submit their abstracts and papers through its official conference communication channels.
The Association added that the 2026 conference is expected to generate robust discussions and practical solutions to strengthen Africa’s legal and institutional frameworks in addressing security, economic, and developmental challenges.
