On October 28, 2026, Épiphane Zoro Bi Ballo, President of Côte d'Ivoire's High Authority for Good Governance (HABG), held a series of official meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meetings were aimed at strengthening cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and international partners. Zoro Bi Ballo met with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OCI), and Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan. These meetings took place on the sidelines of the Baku Forum and a meeting of the OCI's anti-corruption bodies.
During his meeting with the OCI Secretary-General, Zoro Bi Ballo and Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and the OCI. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to Côte d'Ivoire's President Alassane Ouattara for supporting his candidacy to lead the organization. He also mentioned plans to organize an Africa-OCI summit to strengthen relations and exchanges in various fields. One of the projects discussed was the development of a railway link between West and East Africa, an initiative that the OCI aims to promote.
The OCI Secretary-General reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting its member states in the fight against corruption. He emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and strengthening cooperation between competent institutions. Côte d'Ivoire and the OCI have a shared interest in promoting good governance and combating corruption. The meeting provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss ways to deepen their collaboration in these areas.
Zoro Bi Ballo also met with Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan. The meeting focused on exploring opportunities to strengthen relations between Côte d'Ivoire and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side announced that Côte d'Ivoire would be one of the invited countries to the Prosecutors' Conference scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan in 2027. Aliyev expressed his country's willingness to develop exchanges with Côte d'Ivoire in various fields.
Through these meetings, the High Authority for Good Governance demonstrated its commitment to international cooperation and its desire to promote closer ties between institutions engaged in preventing and combating corruption. The meetings also highlighted the importance of collaboration between countries in the fight against corruption. Côte d'Ivoire is taking steps to strengthen its partnerships with international organizations and countries to promote good governance.
The Ivoirian delegation expressed its gratitude to the Azerbaijani authorities for their warm welcome and attention. The meetings in Baku provided a platform for Côte d'Ivoire to engage with international partners and discuss areas of mutual interest. The country's participation in these meetings reflects its commitment to promoting good governance and cooperation with other countries.
The meetings held in Baku are part of Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to strengthen its international partnerships and promote cooperation in the fight against corruption. The country's engagement with the OCI and Azerbaijan demonstrates its commitment to working with other countries and organizations to address common challenges. The outcomes of these meetings are expected to contribute to the development of Côte d'Ivoire's partnerships with international organizations and countries.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire's Épiphane Zoro Bi Ballo meets with OCI Secretary-General and Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General to discuss cooperation in good governance and anti-corruption efforts.
