PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH SHALL HAVE FORCE OF LAW
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
CHAPTER VII
STATUS IMMUNITIES, EXEMPTIONS AND PRIVILEGES
ARTICLE 50
STATUS
To enable it to fulfil its purpose and the functions with which it is entrusted, the Bank shall possess
full international personality. To those ends, it may enter into agreements with members, non-member
States and other international organisations. To the same ends, the status, immunities, exemptions and
privileges set forth in this Chapter shall be accorded to the Bank in the territory of each member.
ARTICLE 51
STATUS IN MEMBER COUNTRIES
In the territory of each member the Bank shall possess full judicial personality and, in particular, full
capacity:
(a) to contract
(b) to acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property; and
(c) to institute legal proceedings.
ARTICLE 52
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
1. The Bank shall enjoy immunity from every form of legal process except in cases arising out of the
exercise of its borrowing powers when it may be sued only in a court of competent jurisdiction in the
territory of a member in which the Bank has its principal office, or in the territory of a member or
non-member State where it has appointed an agent for the purpose of accepting service or notice of
process or has issued or guaranteed securities. No actions shall, however, be brought by members or
persons acting for or deriving claims from members.
2. The property and assets of the Bank shall, wherever located and by whomsoever held, be immune
from all forms of seizure, attachment or execution before the delivery of final judgment against the Bank.
ARTICLE 53
IMMUNITY OF ASSETS AND ARCHIVES
1. Property and assets of the Bank, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from
search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation or any other form of taking or foreclosure by executive or
legislative action.
2. The archives of the Bank and, in general, all documents belonging to it, or held by it, shall be
inviolable, wherever located.
ARTICLE 54
FREEDOM OF ASSETS FROM RESTRICTION
To the extent necessary to carry out the purpose and functions of the Bank and subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, all property and other assets of the Bank shall be exempt from restrictions,
regulations, controls and moratoria of any nature.
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ARTICLE 55
PRIVILEGE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
Official communications of the Bank shall be accorded by each member the same treatment that it
accords to the official communications of other members.
ARTICLE 56
PERSONAL IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES
1. All governors, directors, alternates, officers and employees of the Bank and experts and consultants
performing missions for the Bank;
(i) shall be immune from legal process with respect to acts performed by them in their official
capacity;
(ii) where they are not local nationals, shall be accorded the same immunities from immigration
restrictions, alien registration requirements and national service obligations, and the same facilities as
regards exchange regulations as are accorded by members to the representatives, officials and
employees of comparable rank of other members; and
(iii) shall be granted the same treatment in respect of travelling facilities as is accorded by
members to representatives, officials and employees of comparable rank of other members.
2. Experts and consultants performing missions for the Bank shall be accorded such immunities and
privileges as are, in the opinion of the Bank, necessary for the independent exercise of their functions
during the period of their mission, including the time spent on journeys in connection therewith.
ARTICLE 57
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
1. The Bank, its property, other assets, income and its operations and transactions shall be exempt
from all taxation and from all customs duties. The Bank shall also be exempt from any obligation relating
to the payment, withholding or collection of any tax or duty.
2. No tax shall be levied on or in respect of salaries and emoluments paid by the Bank, to directors,
alternates, officers and other professional staff of the Bank.
3. No tax of any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security issued by the Bank, including any
dividend or interest thereon, by whomsoever held:
(i) which discriminates against such obligation or security solely because it is issued by the Bank;
or
(ii) if the sole jurisdictional basis for such taxation is the place or currency in which it is issued,
made payable or paid, or the location of any office or place of business maintained by the Bank.
4. No tax of any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security guaranteed by the Bank, including
any dividend or interest thereon, by whomsoever held:
(i) which discriminates against such obligation or security solely because it is guaranteed by the
Bank; or
(ii) if the sole jurisdictional basis for such taxation is the location of any office or place of
business maintained by the Bank.
ARTICLE 58
NOTIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTATION
Each member shall promptly inform the Bank of the specific action which it has taken to make
effective in its territory the provisions of this Chapter.
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ARTICLE 59
APPLICATION OF IMMUNITIES, EXEMPTIONS AND PRIVILEGES
The immunities, exemptions and privileges provided in this Chapter are granted in the interests of the
Bank. The Board of Directors may waive, to such extent and upon such conditions as it may determine,
the immunities and exemptions provided in Articles 52, 54, 56 and 57 of this Agreement in cases where
its action would in its opinion further the interests of the Bank. The President shall have the right and the
duty to waive the immunity of any official in cases where, in his opinion, the immunity would impede the
course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Bank.