Uniform act on mediation

The tenth OHADA uniform act, this text fills the gap left by the absence of national mediation rules in most member states. Applicable since 15 March 2018, it defines mediation broadly as any process in which the parties ask a third party to help them reach an amicable settlement of a dispute. It sets out guiding principles: party autonomy, the integrity, independence and impartiality of the mediator, confidentiality and the effectiveness of the process. It governs how mediation starts and ends, the mediator's role and the status of the settlement reached, which can be made enforceable. It gives businesses operating in Gabon a quick and inexpensive way to resolve a commercial dispute before litigation or arbitration.