In Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a five-day training seminar for magistrates commenced on October 5, 2026, at the Centre de formation continue (CFC) of the Institut national de formation judiciaire (INFJ). The training, which will run until October 9, 2026, aims to equip magistrates with the necessary skills to handle administrative justice. The seminar is part of the Contrat de désendettement et de développement-Justice (C2D-Justice) program.
The training program was officially opened by Augustin Kouamé, Director of Civil and Penal Affairs (DACP), on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Human Rights. Kouamé emphasized the government's commitment to establishing specialized administrative courts, highlighting that the effectiveness of these courts depends on the quality and specialization of the magistrates who will preside over them.
The new administrative courts are expected to address the long-standing absence of specialized treatment of administrative justice issues in Côte d'Ivoire. According to Kouamé, the establishment of these courts is not solely dependent on the adoption of new laws or the renovation of court facilities but also on the competence of the magistrates assigned to these courts.
The Director General of INFJ, Marie-Léonard Lebry, expressed gratitude to the Agence française de développement (AFD) and Expertise France for their technical and financial support. Lebry noted that the seminar aims to familiarize magistrates with their new roles as administrative judges, a new development in the Ivoirian judicial system.
The training program covers the fundamentals, methods, and practices of administrative judging. INFJ, established in 2005, is a national public institution responsible for providing professional training in the judicial sector. The institution's mandates, organization, and functioning were modified by a decree in February 2023.
The new administrative courts are expected to enhance the protection of citizens' rights, ensure legal security, and promote confidence in public action. The courts will comprise first and second-degree administrative jurisdictions. The magistrates' training is a crucial step in consolidating the rule of law in Côte d'Ivoire.
The five-day seminar will enable participants to acquire the necessary knowledge, methods, and tools to effectively discharge their responsibilities as administrative judges. Upon completion, the magistrates are expected to contribute to the establishment of efficient, accessible, and rights-protective administrative courts in Côte d'Ivoire.
Key points
- The training seminar for Ivoirian magistrates aims to prepare them for the country's new administrative courts.
- The new administrative courts will address the long-standing absence of specialized treatment of administrative justice issues in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The establishment of the new courts is part of the Contrat de désendettement et de développement-Justice (C2D-Justice) program.
