Public-private partnerships were implemented in Africa long before the relevant legislation was passed. However, laws have been passed recently in 5 African countries in order to detail the legal framework applicable to such partnerships and make such system more secure. PPPs accordingly appear as an interesting alternative to a simple privatisation of companies. The legislations we will consider herein raise the issue of what their real contribution is, but also of the part public authorities still have to play in the context of a partnership. We will also show that such local initiatives would most certainly benefit from a pan-African standardisation.