Côte d’Ivoire: Law and sovereignty respected, the African Court dismisses Laurent Gbagbo’s case
In a clear and unambiguous ruling recently made public, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights rejected all accusations brought by former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo against the State of Côte d’Ivoire. This decision confirms the regularity of Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral process and reinforces the credibility of the country’s judicial system in the face of attempts at discrediting it.
In 2020, Laurent Gbagbo had petitioned the Court, claiming that his fundamental rights had been violated, particularly regarding his removal from the electoral register. But after a thorough review of the facts and legal texts, the pan-African court concluded that Côte d’Ivoire had not violated any provisions of African or international human rights instruments.
This decision confirms what many observers and seasoned legal experts have long maintained: the judicial and administrative processes in Côte d’Ivoire, although sometimes challenged for political reasons, are consistent with the principles of the rule of law and national sovereignty.
It is important to highlight that by rejecting these allegations, the African Court implicitly acknowledges the ability of Ivorian institutions to guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights while upholding constitutional order. This legal clarification also sends a strong signal to those who, for personal or political reasons, might seek to use international courts as a platform to settle internal scores.
This is not a victory over an individual, but a triumph of law and truth over unfounded accusations. The ruling sets an important precedent for all African states: no institution, not even an international one, can stand against a sovereign state’s decisions when they comply with legal frameworks.
