Mr. Mohamadou Aminou (WOLEP member, Rwanda): “I invite all our colleagues to use the tools available to us in the network, in order to establish strong and durable partnerships, as well as collaborative relationships”

WOLEP: Please tell us about yourself in a few phrases. When did you know you wanted be a Lawyer, and what are some of the highlights of your professional journey so far?

Mohamadou Aminou: Talking about oneself is not an obvious exercise; nevertheless, to introduce myself, I am originally from Cameroon and today, I am a Member of the Rwanda Bar Association. After my University studies in my country, I joined a law firm in Douala where I worked as a lawyer for almost 15 years.

During this period, I was able to apply the theory learned to concrete and practical cases, while developing writing skills through various legal documents such as submissions, petitions, ... as well as in the management of the client portfolio with a particular emphasis on advice and amicable resolution of conflicts in order not only to save time, avoiding long and expensive trials, but also to safeguard the business relationship between the parties by preserving their interests in the continuity of these relationships.

This stage in my career has helped me to develop the skills I have today. And, it is from this experience, to develop my career, that I decided to fly to Rwanda to take up new challenges.

Regarding the second part of your question, perhaps I should have started with this point, I would say that I knew, since my teenage years, that I wanted to be a lawyer. This allowed me to focus only on this objective without making a detour in another branch or occupation: I wanted to be a lawyer and nothing else. That's it.

WOLEP: Africa, Rwanda here included, remains a land of vast possibilities both economically, technologically and on a human level. Are you satisfied with how things evolved here for the past decades – both on a business level and in regard to legal developments?

Mohamadou Aminou: It is true that Africa offers tremendous opportunities for development in different segments of the economy; indeed, with its diversity and its human and natural resources, the region has considerable potential to achieve inclusive growth and end poverty. In its overview of the continent, the World Bank estimates that with a market of 1.2 billion people and the creation of the world's largest free trade area, the continent is embarking on a radically new development path that will harness the potential of its people and resources. But of course, to boost these assets and maintain international trade flows, it is necessary, for example, to implement policies that accelerate structural transformation through productivity growth and the creation of more and better jobs.

That said, in the case of Rwanda, the country has managed to implement important economic and structural reforms over the past decade and to maintain sustained growth. In particular, Rwanda aims to become a middle-income economy by 2035 and to join the ranks of high-income countries by 2050. The government intends to achieve this ambition through a suite of seven-year national transformation strategies, which will be based on detailed sectoral plans geared towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

(See: https://www.nirda.gov.rw/uploads/tx_dce/National_Strategy_For_Trsansformation_-NST1-min.pdf ).

On the legal front, Rwanda has established a regulatory and legal framework that is fully compliant with international standards, setting a new benchmark for pan-African investments.

So yes, overall there is satisfaction with the achievements already made, which is encouraging for the future.

WOLEP: We know that you are specialised in Intellectual Property Rights, a specialization which you share with some of your WOLEP colleagues. What are some of the key legal aspects of IP on which you advise your Clients? Do you also advise foreign investors coming to Rwanda?

Mohamadou Aminou: You know that the generic term "Intellectual Property" actually covers both intellectual works, which include not only works of art and inventions, but also computer programs and trademarks and other commercial signs. Thus, intellectual property rights play a fundamental role in the protection of this range of activities, which themselves have an important role both in cultural life and in the economic sphere in a given space.

Therefore, on a geographical scale, companies and SMEs are essential in an ever-expanding innovation economy, since they create new technologies while considerably improving those that already exist.  Moreover, in their expansion, they design, manufacture and market products that incorporate these new or improved technologies.

It is therefore a question of knowing how to guarantee their success and to inform these various actors on the modalities of protection and management of their intellectual property assets which are thus the object of a whole series of rights which include in particular patents, trade secrets (know-how), copyright, rights relating to designs and models and trademarks. It is essentially around these rights of the Intellectual Property that I dedicate myself on behalf of my clients either at the National level here in Rwanda, or then, for those wishing to internationalize, to advise them to make a judicious choice at the regional level (With ARIPO or OAPI) or even the exploitation of the benefits offered by WIPO through the various treaties which manage this field.

As for the second part of your question, I must say that my clients are for the most part foreign investors who have either already invested in Rwanda or in the East African Community market with a solid establishment, or who are in prospecting and need advice on the incentives and other advantages of investing in the African continent.

WOLEP: What are your most important professional values, that you always incorporate into your practice? What do you think is the key to a successful, long-lasting relationship with a Client?

Mohamadou Aminou: The professional values inherent to our profession are, I believe, universal and derive from the oath we take in committing ourselves to the essential principles of the profession: Dignity, conscience, independence, probity and humanity remain the professional values that guide our practice at all times.

These professional values are fundamental resources without which professional ethics remain a figment of the imagination.  For example, the Rules and Regulations of the Rwanda Bar Association stipulate in its article 129 on the Lawyer's Line of Conduct that: "In accordance with his oath, the Lawyer shall conscientiously safeguard the interests of those he advises or whose rights and freedoms he defends, as well as the respect of the rule of law. The lawyer acts faithfully only in the exercise of the mandate entrusted to him by his client". It is therefore through this line of conduct as it emerges from his oath that the lawyer must ensure the respect of these cardinal values which are in fact a duty.

This being said, I think that it is essential to combine these common requirements with personal values such as rigour, creativity, audacity,...

When it comes to creating a successful and long-lasting relationship with a client, I first and foremost value trust, without which there can be no relationship. Indeed, mutual trust is for me the foundation of the relationship between the lawyer and the client; trust without which this relationship cannot last. Then, during the evolution of this relationship, regular communication, clarity and honesty seem to me fundamental to consolidate this relationship of trust. Finally, there should be a solid dose of competence during this relationship, which requires from us legal knowledge, skills, thoroughness and preparation reasonably indispensable to the representation of our clients.

WOLEP: You’ve been a constant presence on our WOLEP Webinars so far. What are your impressions on these events? Furthermore, would you consider hosting a WOLEP Webinar dedicated to law in Africa – if so, what subject would you choose, and who would you invite?

Mohamadou Aminou: Beyond the aspects related to the sharing of knowledge on various legal subjects, which are part of the continuous training we need in view of the increasing evolution of the law, the events organized by WOLEP also represent, in my opinion, a formidable springboard to get to know and, in the long run, possibly, to meet with colleagues from all over the world with a view to a future collaboration on specific subjects. Of course, this possibility already exists on the site, but the webinar offers a more vivid perception and can actually bring about a revelation, an idea related to the topic discussed as well as the exchanges made at the end of the presentation.

Of course, organizing and presenting a webinar is an absolute challenge that I would love to take on; all the more so since presenting a topic while knowing that we are in front of colleagues, legal practitioners who all know the legislation, practices, and jurisprudential developments on the topic addressed, with obviously a specificity and a particularity specific to a given geographical area. The idea being to exchange and share experiences which are not necessarily the same, yes I like the idea very much.

Regarding the subject I would like to address, in addition to intellectual property rights with its various aspects, I remain open to other specialties of law that affect our daily practices such as maritime transport law, renewable energy rights, investment law... As the subject is not exhaustive and cannot be limited to a single field, a joint initiative with either a fellow member from East/Central Africa and/or Europe or a government representative specialized in a field of major interest to our fellow members of the Wolep network would be ideal.

WOLEP: You are working and living in the capital of Rwanda. Kigali is fast developing, as witnessed in the Kigali Innovation City project. Please provide some insights on the economic and legal development of the city – are there many law offices in your city? How are Lawyers looked upon in Rwandan society?

Mohamadou Aminou: Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, with a 10-year average GDP growth rate of 7%. This is to tell you that the country stands out highly in Africa thanks to an incredible history of resilience, reliable and forward-thinking government. It is in this spirit of excellence that the country has embarked on huge economic transformation that has enabled Rwanda to be at the forefront of innovation and technology, pan-African integration while ensuring that it maintains an enabling environment for investment. This is to say that Rwanda offers a conducive environment for business to develop and boost its economy. Thus, through the sectoral policies undertaken on several fronts to impact all economic sectors, Rwanda is a key anchor for investment in Africa in general and, more specifically, within the vast East African Common Market.

For example, on Integrity and Governance, Rwanda is ranked 2nd in Africa according to the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index, 3rd least corrupt country in Africa by Transparency International in its Corruption Perception Index report, while on operational practices and ease of doing business, the country is ranked 2nd in Africa by the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business 2020, 4th in Africa according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index 2020... This is to tell you that thanks to the conjunction of these efforts and factors, Rwanda is a country with a booming economic development.

Rwanda is moreover, on the legal level, a healthy and stable environment thanks in particular to the overhaul and implementation of a legal arsenal that enshrines the legal security of all Rwandan citizens as well as foreigners living there. Indeed, the Rwanda Law Reform Commission, created in 2014 by Law No. 35/2014 of 28/11/2014, has been endowed with the global and permanent mission of revising Rwandan laws in order to ensure their development and reform. And, in the implementation of this regalian mission, this body effectively ensures the reform of (pre-existing) laws for a predictable and dynamic legal landscape, a guarantee of any democratic society.

As of June 24, 2022, the Register of Lawyers shows a total of 1400 lawyers registered at the Rwandan Bar Association, which gives you an idea of the number of lawyers practicing the profession. Obviously, if we disregard those who are practicing solo, who are the most numerous, there are in Kigali, large Business Law Firms of regional and even international scope which are spread on all continents today.

Of course, to be a lawyer entails a certain nobility which makes the profession one of the most respected in our society. Through a personal discipline inherent to every person, coupled with the deontological rules that frame the exercise, the Lawyer in Rwanda is a model for the citizens.

WOLEP: Why is being part of an international lawyers’ network such as WOLEP important for your professional development? Did you get a chance to talk to some of your colleagues in the network, and what are your expectations for the future, regarding our network?

Mohamadou Aminou: Being part of an international network such as Wolep is of undeniable importance in that not only does this membership represent a certain visibility which could possibly be a vector of references for future clients, but also, through the events organized for the members, one can make professional meetings and exchanges that could lead to collaborations of international scope with our colleagues. Of course, until then I had the opportunity to exchange polite and courteous messages with some of our colleagues on the site and also by phone for some.

In terms of expectations for the future, I would like our network to be more competitive with the multiple existing networks; by this I mean to offer significantly more opportunities for our members to collaborate and participate in annual meetings where we can establish partnerships with other colleagues around the world, while defining collective policies and synergies in the growth and development of our network.

WOLEP: In the end, please share a message with your WOLEP colleagues around the world.

Mohamadou Aminou: Our profession has become today more and more specialized, more and more specific and, at the same time, is facing different challenges that we must meet. Therefore, I would like to tell all our colleagues to use the tools available to us in the network in order to establish strong and durable partnerships and/or collaborative relationships with each other in order to face the increased competition we are facing.

Being part of this network makes me think that we all share a desire to work for the success of each of our members. We must seize this opportunity to diversify and explore other horizons through the multiple skills and specialties that our members offer. I am of course open to any suggestion that would allow us to expand our family.

I will conclude my remarks by expressing my warm thanks to you for allowing me to address all our colleagues through this interview. I hope and wish that this exchange will allow our colleagues to learn a little more about me and my country of residence, Rwanda, which remains a country with vast possibilities where I will be delighted to welcome those who want to explore our beautiful continent. I thank you for your interest.

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